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EU Chemical Industry Needs Bold Action

CEFIC recently launched its competitiveness study emphasizing the severity of the situation for the EU chemicals industry; over 11 million tons of capacity have already been announced to be closed for 2023-2024, affecting 21 major sites.

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Galapagos Intents to Split into Two Publicly Traded Entities

Galapagos, a biotechnology company headquartered in Belgium, plans to split into two entities: a newly formed company (name to be announced at a later date) that will focus on building a pipeline of innovative drugs through transformative transactions, and Galapagos, which will continue to develop its cell therapy manufacturing platform in oncology.

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Newron Licenses Evenamide to Myung In Pharm

Newron Pharmaceuticals, a central nervous system (CNS) focused biopharmaceutical company, and Myung In Pharm, South Korea’s leading CNS pharmaceutical company, today announced that they have entered into a license agreement to develop, manufacture, and commercialize Newron’s schizophrenia treatment evenamide. 

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Ashland to Sell Avoca to Mane

Ashland recently announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Avoca business to Mane. The transaction is expected to close in the calendar first quarter 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

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Barentz Appoints Derk Jan Terhorst as CEO

Global specialty ingredients solution provider Barentz has appointed Derk Jan Terhorst as group CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2025. He will take over from Terry Hill who served as interim CEO since May 2024.

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Merck & Co. Acquires Vaccine Site in Ireland from WuXi

As part of its long-term plans in the country, US drugmaker Merck & Co., operating as MSD outside of North America, has acquired WuXi Biologics’ site in Dundalk, Ireland, for about $500 million. The deal was announced through Ireland’s Foreign Direct Investment Agency (IDA) and MSD’s Ireland unit.

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GemmaBio Secures $34 Million in Funding

Gemma Biotherapeutics (GemmaBio), a new therapeutics company founded by gene therapy pioneer Jim Wilson, recently announced the completion of a $34 million seed funding round to accelerate its groundbreaking gene therapy initiatives.

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Immedica to Acquire Biopharma Company Marinus

Stockholm, Sweden-headquartered global rare disease company Immedica Pharma has agreed to acquire Marinus Pharmaceuticals, a US commercial-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapies for seizure disorders, for enterprise value of approximately $151 million.

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NextChem Wins Two Contracts in Canada

NextChem, part of Italian engineering group Maire Tecnimont, has been awarded new contracts for the proprietary NX STAMI Urea technology of its subsidiary Stamicarbon in Canada.

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Hutchmed to Divest Stake in Joint Venture for $608 Million

China’s Hutchmed has agreed to divest its 45% equity interest in Shanghai Hutchison Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (SHPL) for approximately $608 million (4,478 million renminbi) in cash, to China-based private equity firm GP Health Service Capital and Shanghai Pharmaceuticals.

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Carbios Postpones Construction of PET Bio-Recycling Facility in France

French green chemistry company Carbios announced that it is postponing the construction of its PET bio-recycling plant in Longlaville for six to nine months due to delayed funding pending completion of additional financing under satisfactory conditions. The company aims to complete the financing as soon as possible to meet market needs from 2027. Carbios expects to sign several binding commercial contracts in the first half of 2025.

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Merck & Co. Licenses Obesity Drug from Hansoh Pharma

US Merck & Co., operating as MSD outside the US and Canada, and Chinese biopharmaceutical company Hansoh Pharma have entered into an exclusive global license agreement for HS-10535, an investigational preclinical oral small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 receptor agonists are primarily used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

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AbbVie to Buy Nimble Therapeutics for $200 Million

US biopharma AbbVie has signed an agreement to acquire US biotechnology company Nimble Therapeutics, including its lead asset, an investigational oral peptide IL23R inhibitor in preclinical development for the treatment of psoriasis and a pipeline of other novel oral peptide candidates with potential across several autoimmune diseases.

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Newron Licenses Schizophrenia Treatment to EA Pharma

Italian drugmaker Newron Pharmaceuticals and EA Pharma, a subsidiary of Japan’s Eisai, today have entered into a license agreement to develop, manufacture and commercialize Newron’s evenamide in Japan and other designated Asian territories.

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Austria: A Hotspot for Life Sciences

An Attractive and Highly Sought-after Business Location

The life sciences sector, encompassing biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, is developing rapidly in Austria.

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Substantial Progresses in Sustainability Focus Areas

The Italian Olon Group, a leading international supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), presents the 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report and confirms the sustainability journey toward energy transition, investments in alternative energy sources, social and economic involvement and support for the communities in which it operates

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Greensand CCS Project Partners Take Final Investment Decision

Ineos and its partners Harbour Energy and Nordsøfonden have taken the final investment decision (FID) into the first commercial phase ‘Greensand Future’ with storage operations in a depleted oil field in the Danish North Sea set to begin at the end of 2025/early 2026.

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Samabriva Opens Biomanufacturing Facility in Belgium

French biotechnology company Samabriva has opened a new 1,400 m2 biomanufacturing facility in Liege, Belgium. The multi-million Euros investment is designed to provide industrial-scale production of high-value natural molecules used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, the company said.

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Amgen Plans $1 Billion Manufacturing Expansion in North Carolina

In a move to expand its global biomanufacturing network, US biopharma Amgen is planning to invest $1 billion to build a second drug substance manufacturing facility at its US site in Holy Springs, North Carolina. This brings the company's total planned investment in Holly Springs to more than $1.5 billion, building on its previously announced $550 million commitment.

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Navigating the Future of Chemical Distribution

In 2024, the chemical distribution industry is at a pivotal moment, navigating both challenges and new opportunities. As distributors grapple with a landscape shaped by shifting global trade routes, demand constraints, and digital disruption, their roles are evolving far beyond traditional bulk breaking.

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Doppelganger Plastics: A More Desirable Alternative?

Plastics are highly effective but environmentally damaging. PET is a prime example, being cheap and recyclable yet oil-based. With plastics set to consume 20% of global oil and gas by 2050, sustainable alternatives are crucial. Enter PEF, a bioplastic that could revolutionize the industry. Can PEF be the solution we need?

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CSDDD: The Formula for a Sustainable Chemical Industry?

The EU's Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is reshaping the chemical industry's approach to environmental and social responsibility. A close look at the requirements reveals significant changes to supply chain oversight, risk management, and sustainability reporting. Chemical companies must implement new strategies to ensure compliance, drive innovation, and adapt to evolving regulations.

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Transforming Distribution Strategies

Experts of Ataman Chemicals, Barentz, Biesterfeld, Brenntag, BÜFA Chemicals, CSC Jaeklechemie, Häffner, IMCD, Krahn Chemie, Möller Chemie, Nordmann, RN Chemicals, and Stockmeier share their opinions

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Statement: Dany Njeim, CEO, RN Chemicals

CHEManager asked executives and industry experts from a broad range of chemical distributors to share their views on how their companies are dealing with this changing economic environment and the resulting opportunities and challenges.

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Interview

Leading Transformation
The Path to Sustainable Growth

Leading Transformation

As Executive Vice President of International Chemicals since early 2024, Antje Gerber has been steering Sasol through a pivotal reset—focused on resilience, innovation, and bold sustainability goals.