German chemical company Wacker Chemie has broken ground for its new production site in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. Wacker plans to produce room-temperature-curing high-performance silicones there from the end of 2025 and high-consistency silicone rubbers from 2028.
Japan’s Shin-Etsu Chemical has made an offer to acquire all of the shares in its affiliate Mimasu Semiconductor Industry for ¥68.0 billion (approximately $430.9 million). Shin-Etsu will raise its stake in Mimasu to 100% from the current 43.87%. The tender offer will begin on June 21, with the aim of closing by the end of Aug. 5.
Zofingen, Switzerland-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Siegfried has signed a binding agreement to acquire an early-phase CDMO site in Grafton, Wisconsin, US, from Curia. The transaction is expected to close by July 1, subject to customary closing conditions.
Fujifilm hast completed the construction of a new factory for advanced semiconductor materials in Pyeongtaek City, Korea. The new factory will produce color filter materials for image sensors. The new factory is scheduled to be fully operational by the end of December 2024.
Actylis, a global manufacturer and sourcing expert of critical materials and performance ingredients for the life sciences and specialty chemicals markets formed in 2022, appointed Scott Thomson as new Chief Executive Officer.
US drugmaker AbbVie and Chinese biopharmaceutical company FutureGen have entered into a license agreement to develop FG-M701, a next generation TL1A antibody for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) currently in preclinical testing.
Austrian start-up Vienna Textile Lab produces biodegradable dyes and pigments utilizing naturally occurring microorganisms. Low-emission production, the use of renewable raw materials and the biodegradability of the final product are significant sustainability aspects of the innovation and its contribution to a circular economy.
Last week, US chemical producer Huntsman opened a new innovation center in Tienen, Belgium, strengthening its research and development (R&D) capabilities.
Siegfried, a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) for the pharmaceutical industry headquartered in Zofingen, Switzerland, has signed binding agreements with Curia Global for the acquisition of an early-phase CDMO site in Grafton, Wisconsin, US.
Kyowa Kirin announced a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sanford, North Carolina, US. Kyowa Kirin will invest up to $530 million (€489 million) in constructing a 15,951m2 two-bioreactor facility, scheduled to break ground in Q3 of 2024.
Ipsen and Marengo Therapeutics Inc, a clinical-stage biotech company, announced today the expansion of their ongoing oncology research partnership, to include TriStar, Marengo’s next-generation, precision T cell engager (TCE) technology.
CEPSA has begun constructing a plant to produce 80,000 mt of isopropyl alcohol in Spain. The new facility represents an investment of € 75 million. The facility will be able to replace fossil-based raw materials with sustainable materials, thereby reinforcing CEPSA's Positive Motion strategy to drive the energy transition.
Air Products and TotalEnergies have entered into a 15-year contract to annually deliver 70,000 tons of green hydrogen in Europe, commencing in 2030. This first long-term agreement is a response to TotalEnergies' tender for 500,000 tons of green hydrogen per year, aimed at reducing carbon emissions from TotalEnergies' European refineries.
German biotech company BioNTech and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) are expanding their strategic partnership to contribute to building a sustainable and resilient end-to-end African vaccine ecosystem. The partners said that CEPI will commit up to $145 million to support BioNTech to establish mRNA vaccine R&D as well as clinical and commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities at the company’s facility in Kigali, Rwanda.
Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services Limited (Aurigene), a Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited company, inaugurated its biologics facility spread across 6500 m2 (70,000 sq ft) in Hyderabad, India.
Quantro Therapeutics, which focuses on transcription factors targeting cancer treatments, announced that it has reached a key milestone in its joint R&D program with Boehringer Ingelheim.
In a move to continue its geographical expansion, Hamburg-based German distributor Biesterfeld has acquired Aerontec, a South African supplier and distributor of advanced composite materials and related technology.
Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the supply chain lies outside of a company’s direct control, so collaboration with suppliers and partners in the supply chain is key.
In February, industry leaders from 20 industrial sectors presented the ‘Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Deal’. The declaration emphasizes industry's dedication to Europe's transformation and outlines urgent needs to enhance Europe's competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability amid challenging economic circumstances.
Interview with Leon Ferrant, Green Li-ion
Interview with Morgane Rousselot, SeaBeLife
BioPhorum, an industry collaboration group, focuses on advancing sustainability within the biopharmaceutical sector. In an exclusive interview, Nicola Coles, Director of BioPhorum Sustainability, shares insights into the organization’s commitment to environmentally responsible practices.
The idea that statistics can address urgent sustainability concerns at the lab bench was central to presentations at the recent JMP Discovery Summit Europe in Manchester, UK.
In this interview, Phillip Chalabi, Umicore’s director Strategic Projects and Innovation, gives an overview of the company’s activities in precious metal chemistry.
Ori Biotech a cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing technology producer, recently announced the commercial launch of IRO, a next-generation platform.
UK-headquartered contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Sterling Pharma Solutions has invested $3 million at its US facility in Germantown, WI, to expand the company’s integrated antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development and manufacturing capabilities.
Neste, Marubeni and Resonac have agreed to cooperate on the production of renewable olefins and derivatives. The cooperation involves Neste RE, a Neste-produced renewable raw material, being used to manufacture products at leading Japanese chemical company Resonac’s Oita Complex in Japan. Marubeni, a major Japanese general trading and investment conglomerate, will coordinate all logistical arrangements from Neste to Resonac, the partners said.
In a move to expand its expertise and business in silicone-coated healthcare products, Germany’s Wacker Chemie has acquired the manufacturing assets and know-how of US-based Bio Med Sciences. As part of the acquisition, a majority of Bio Med Sciences’ workforce will also move to Wacker, the company said. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
LyondellBasell (LYB) has completed the acquisition of a 35% interest in Saudi Arabia-based National Petrochemical Industrial Company (Natpet) from Alujain. The transaction was announced in January of this year.
Enzene Biosciences, a global CDMO announces the launch of a new Drug Discovery Division.
US oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Marathon Oil for $22.5 billion, including net debt of $5.4 billion. The transaction, which is subject to the approval of Marathon Oil stockholders, regulatory clearance and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024.
South Korean conglomerate Hanwha and Ineos Nitriles intend to collaborate in a study for a low-carbon ammonia facility with carbon sequestration in the US, with a capacity of more than 1 million tons per annum.
QatarEnergy signed a long-term urea supply agreement with US-based Koch Fertilizer. The 15-year supply agreement, starting in July 2024, covers up to 740,000 metric tons per year of product.
US drugmaker Merck & Co. (MSD) has agreed to acquire privately held ophthalmology-focused biotechnology company Eyebiotech (EyeBio).
US healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) agreed to acquire Yellow Jersey Therapeutics (YJT) from biotechnology company Numab Therapeutics in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.25 billion, giving it worldwide rights to the novel, investigational bispecific antibody NM26.
