Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB), or Cetrimonium Bromide, is a Quaternary ammonium compound (Quat) consisting of a cationic surfactant called Hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide. CTAB is an effective antimicrobial agent and is active against most types of common bacteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses.
CTAB has several important applications in the pharmaceutical industry, as an antiseptic active ingredient in oral and topical formulations, and as a processing aid for downstream vaccine and DNA purification. It is also well-known as a conditioning ingredient and/or preservative in cosmetics.
Novo Nordisk Pharmatech is the world’s only supplier of pharmaceutical-grade CTAB, manufactured to cGMP requirements. Our FeF CTAB USP/NF product delivers proven effectiveness against a broad spectrum of microorganisms and maintains its efficacy across a wide pH range. It comes as a white, crystalline powder and does not introduce any unwanted odours or colours to finished products. .
Learn more about our CTAB product here
As a result of its excellent antibacterial properties, CTAB is a popular API in throat lozenges and topical antiseptic products such as gels and creams.
We also supply CTAB to the biopharmaceutical market, where it is used as a downstream processing aid or auxiliary/ancillary. Cetrimonium Bromide is used within the buffer system for polysaccharide vaccines, enabling manufacturers to achieve higher yields of polysaccharides during precipitation.
In viral vaccines, CTAB helps manufacturers separate virus antigens from undesired components and contaminants. By attacking cell membranes through the process of cell lysis, CTAB enables efficient isolation of antigenic material.
FeF CTAB USP/NF can also be used in the DNA extraction process. This makes it a valuable tool in the production of non-viral vectors for gene and nucleic acid-based therapies.
Quality requirements are high in the pharmaceutical world, especially when processing vaccines. With quality directly linked to patient safety, no risks should be taken when sourcing active ingredients, excipients, or processing aids. FeF CTAB USP/NF is manufactured in full compliance with ICH Q7, making us the only cGMP pharmaceutical-grade Cetrimonium Bromide supplier on the market. For our pharmaceutical customers, this means that a high-quality, high-purity CTAB product is guaranteed alongside full traceability, USP/NF compliance, documentation, and audit access.
Moreover, all Novo Nordisk Pharmatech Quats are manufactured to consistently high-quality levels as a result of our fully validated procedures and quality control system.