Meloxicam

Description

1. Product Overview

Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the enolic acid class, selectively inhibiting COX-2 to provide potent analgesia and anti-inflammatory action with reduced gastrointestinal toxicity. Industrially, it serves as the core active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for oral and injectable formulations targeting osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and acute musculoskeletal disorders. Its value proposition lies in high batch-to-batch consistency and competitive yield per kilogram, enabling formulators to lower final drug product costs. Strategically, Meloxicam remains critical as global demand for affordable, patent-expired NSAIDs grows in emerging markets and institutional procurement channels.

2. Key Specifications & Technical Characteristics

• Chemical composition: Meloxicam (C₁₄H₁₃N₃O₄S₂), enolic acid derivative, CAS 71125-38-7

• Purity grade: Ph. Eur. / USP / BP compliant, ≥99.0% to 101.0% (on dried basis)

• Physical form: Pale yellow to yellow crystalline powder

• Particle size: D90 ≤ 50 µm (micronized grade available for suspension/solution)

• Bulk density: 0.35–0.55 g/cm³ (untapped)

• Packaging options: Double LDPE liner inside HDPE drum (25 kg net), or fiber drum with aluminum foil bag (20 kg)

• Shelf life: 48 months when stored in original sealed container at ≤30°C, protected from light and moisture

3. Core Industrial Applications

• Pharmaceutical contract manufacturing (CDMOs/CMOs) – used as API in once-daily oral tablets (7.5 mg, 15 mg) and parenteral solutions for hospital formularies.

• Veterinary drug production – formulated into oral suspension and injectable for cattle, swine, and equine inflammatory conditions.

• Bulk generic drug exporters – preferred for high-volume blister packaging due to excellent flow properties and compaction characteristics.

• Why better: Superior COX-2 selectivity over diclofenac and ibuprofen reduces GI adverse event liability; thermally stable up to 250°C simplifies granulation and drying steps, cutting processing energy costs by ~12% versus comparable NSAIDs.

4. Competitive Advantages

• Quality consistency: ISO 9001:2015 and GMP-certified facility; each batch released with CoA including residual solvents (ICH Q3C), heavy metals (≤20 ppm), and related substances (single impurity ≤0.1%).

• Supply reliability: Dual-sourced synthesis pathway (sulfonamide route) with 6-month rolling forecast inventory buffer; lead time 14 days for contract-committed buyers.

• Logistics capability: Temperature-controlled ambient shipping with real-time GPS dataloggers for 40+ countries.

• Price competitiveness: Cost-per-gram 18–22% below top-three Chinese producers for annual volumes ≥500 kg, with duty-managed incoterms (CIP, FOB, CIF).

• Sustainability: Solvent recovery rate >85% (acetonitrile and DMF), zero VOC emission compliance for EU REACH and US EPA.

5. Commercial & Supply Information

• Minimum order quantity (MOQ): BULK 20MT (20 metric tons) per shipment lot

• Loading capacity: 20MT per 20-foot standard dry container (palletized, 40 drums × 500 kg equivalent; actual drum count: 800 × 25 kg drums)