The earliest pills appeared in ancient Egypt. It was a small round ball containing medicinal ingredients, mixed with clay or bread. For the next five thousand years, the pill was round and white. Color was almost non-existent. It was not until the 1950s that people began to use color intentionally to identify and attract attention. In the pharmaceutical industry, a pharmaceutical color is a pharmaceutically inactive substance added to a formulation to impart color. Pharmaceutical colors are used in both internal and external medications to produce a distinctive appearance, identification and to improve patient compliance. Alfa Chemistry is a professional manufacturer and supplier of pharmaceutical colors. Our pharmaceutical colors can be used in syrups, capsules, tablets, powders, and many other applications.
The benefits of coloring the pharmaceuticals
Color has benefited patients as well as the pharmaceutical companies in several very functional ways. The main benefits are described below.
- Color helps to identify small sized drugs that are not easily distinguished by shape variations and imprinting. This is particularly important for patients with deteriorating memory and cognitive abilities who are confused when taking various medications, most of which are small white pills.
- Patients respond best when the color of the drug matches its efficacy. For example, drug manufacturers often use light colors in anti-anxiety and sleep-inducing drugs, and bright colors in antidepressants.
- Patients prefer medications that are consistent in flavor and color. For example, patients expect cherry-flavored preparations to be red, orange-flavored preparations to be orange and mint-flavored preparations to be green or white.
- Color is playing a powerful role in transforming plain white pills into a unique brand image. In a highly competitive market, color can distinguish your brand from others.
- Color helps to prevent counterfeiting. Developing a unique color for a specific active drug helps to reduce the risk of counterfeiting.
Our products
Due to the rich industry experience, we have become a leader in the field of pharmaceutical colors. We offer the widest range of pharmaceutical colors for all types of drugs, including solvent soluble, water soluble, organic lakes, organic and inorganic pigments. The main list of products that we are able to offer is listed below.
 Solvent Soluble |
|---|
| Product Name | Color Sample | Color Index No. |
|---|
| D & C Yellow 11 | 
| 47000 |
| D & C Yellow 7 | 
| 45350:1 |
| D & C Red 27 | 
| 45410:1 |
| D & C Red 21 | 
| 45380:2 |
| D & C Red 17 | 
| 26100 |
| D & C Green 6 | 
| 61565 |
| D & C Violet 2 | 
| 60725 |
- The color samples shown in the table are only approximate.
|
Note: D&C colors are the colors especially for the drugs and cosmetics industry.
| Water Soluble |
|---|
| Product Name | Color Sample | Color Index No. |
|---|
| D & C Green 8 | 
| 59040 |
| Quinoline Yellow | 
| 47005 |
| FD & C Yellow 5 | 
| 19140 |
| D & C Yellow 10 | 
| 47005 |
| D & C Yellow 8 | 
| 45350 |
| FD & C Yellow 6 | 
| 15985 |
| D & C Orange 4 | 
| 15510 |
| Ponceau 4R | 
| 16255 |
| FD & C Red 4 | 
| 14700 |
| FD & C Red 40 | 
| 16035 |
| FD & C Red 3 | 
| 45430 |
| D & C Red 22 | 
| 45380 |
| D & C Red 28 | 
| 45410 |
| Carmoisine | 
| 14720 |
| D & C Red 33 | 
| 17200 |
| Amaranth | 
| 16185 |
| D & C Green 5 | 
| 61570 |
| FD & C Green 3 | 
| 42053 |
| FD & C Blue 1 | 
| 42090 |
| Patent Blue V | 
| 42051 |
| FD & C Blue 2 | 
| 73015 |
| Black PN | 
| 28440 |
- The color samples shown in the table are only approximate.
|
Note: D&C colors are the colors especially for the drugs and cosmetics industry. FD&C colors are the colors especially for the foods, drugs and cosmetics industry.
| Organic Lakes |
|---|
| Product Name | Color Sample | Color Index No. |
|---|
| D & C Yellow 10 Lake | 
| 47005:1 |
| Quinoline Yellow Lake | 
| 47005:1 |
| FD & C Yellow 5 Lake | 
| 19140:1 |
| FD & C Yellow 6 Lake | 
| 15985:1 |
| FD & C Red 40 Lake | 
| 16035:1 |
| Ponceau 4R Lake | 
| 16255:1 |
| D & C Red 21 Lake | 
| 45380:3 |
| D & C Red 6 Ba Lake | 
| 15850:2 |
| D & C Red 7 Ca. Lake | 
| 15850:1 |
| Erythrosine Lake | 
| 45430:1 |
| Carmoisine Lake | 
| 14720:1 |
| Amaranth Lake | 
| 16185:1 |
| D & C Red 27 Lake | 
| 45410:2 |
| FD & C Blue 1 Lake | 
| 42090:2 |
| Patent Blue V Lake | 
| 42051:1 |
| FD & C Blue 2 Lake | 
| 73015:1 |
- The color samples shown in the table are only approximate.
|
Note: D&C lakes are synthetic dye pigments especially for the drugs and cosmetics industry. FD&C lakes are synthetic dye pigments especially for the foods, drugs and cosmetics industry.
| Organic and Inorganic Pigments |
|---|
| Product Name | Color Sample | Color Index No. |
|---|
| D & C Red 36 | 
| 12085 |
| D & C Red 30 | 
| 73360 |
| D & C Red 34 | 
| 15880:1 |
| Titanium Dioxide | 
| 77891 |
| Yellow Iron Oxide | 
| 77492 |
| Red Iron Oxide | 
| 77491 |
| Black Iron Oxide | 
| 77499 |
- The color samples shown in the table are only approximate.
|
Note: D&C pigments are the pigments especially for the drugs and cosmetics industry.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
