Sirio Pharma to debut soft chew capabilities at SupplySide Global

Sirio Pharma (City of Industry, CA) has announced the company’s new soft chew capabilities in time for SupplySide Global, taking place in Las Vegas, NV from October 29-30. According to Sirio, soft chews’ confectionary-style makeup allows them to carry four times the active mass of other oral formats, which means have to consumer don’t have to consume as many pieces to get their desired benefits. This is particularly useful in categories that require long-term supplementation such as bone, joint, and cardiovascular health. Soft chews are a growing category, says Sirio, with 41% sales growth in the U.S. in 2024, eclipsing $100 million for the first time. The company explains that this surge was led by several categories including immunity, bone health and cognitive support, with other functionalities also gaining substantial momentum.

According to the company’s press release, it’s their base of polyols, fibers, hydrocolloids and lipid carriers that give their soft chews high macronutrient deliverability. Additionally, the lipid carriers when combined with emulsifiers and surfactants create a self-emulsifying system when exposed to gastric juices, therefore improving solubilization and facilitating uptake across intestinal membranes. Soft chews are also conducive to multi-layered flavor masking and texturing, allowing for a smoother sensory profile compared to single phase carriers. This is particularly useful with challenging ingredients like iron, zinc, certain amino acids, and botanical extracts.

From a formulation standpoint, Sirio also points out that soft chews have great mouthfeel due to texture control properties, favorable heat stability, as well as a shelf-life that is free of melting, sweating, and clumping issues. Notably, soft chews eliminate the need for starch molding that is common with gummies, and the format expands upon the available packaging options. All these factors contribute to the format’s cost effectiveness and branding opportunities, says Sirio.

“In addition to gaining impressive inroads with consumers due to their satisfying taste and mouthfeel, soft chews offer exceptional versatility and robustness concerning the types and amounts of active ingredients they can deliver,” said Mark Dewis, general manager of Sirio Americas Business Unit, in a press release. “Combined with their relative ease in manufacturing, these attributes make soft chews an ideal addition to our wide array of product formats. We’re excited to bring our decades of development expertise to this rapidly emerging segment.”

Sirio has been actively innovating across a range of dosage formats. Most recently, the company announced an expansion of its X Mg range of magnesium supplements which debuted at CPHI 2025. “Each entry in our new range is strategically crafted to meet a key market need, from convenient pre-workout energy boosters to effective gummies that promote a good night’s sleep,” said Sara Lesina, general manager of Sirio Europe, in a press release.