Top 20 Pharmaceutical Excipients 2004 – 2024

November 26, 2025

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The article “Top 20 Pharmaceutical Excipients 2004–2024” looks at the most commonly studied excipients over the past 20 years, with a focus on tablets and other oral solid dosage forms. Based on both scientific publications and industry news, the top excipients include microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), povidone/crospovidone, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and sodium starch glycolate.

These excipients remain essential in drug formulation, showing that academic research often reflects what’s actually used in the industry. Key takeaways for formulators include:

- Cellulosic excipients like MCC continue to dominate.

- Functional polymers are becoming increasingly important for improving drug performance.

- Regulatory concerns often drive research more than technical innovation.

Even widely used excipients that get less academic attention are still critical in daily manufacturing.

In short, the most popular excipients aren’t just “trending” in research—they’re shaping the way medicines are made.