Lilly to Expand US Drug Manufacturing with $27 Billion Investment
Eli Lilly plans to invest $27 billion to bolster its domestic medicine production across several therapeutic areas by building four new manufacturing sites in the US.
News
Arkema to Increase its PVDF Capacity in North America
The 15% capacity expansion of Arkema’s PVDF production site in Calvert City, Kentucky, represents an investment of approximately $20 million (€19 million).
European Chemical Industry Becoming Extinct
Ahead of the unveiling of the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, Ineos Chairman and CEO, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, authored an open letter to emphasize the importance of supportive political decisions and measures for the European industry. Releasing the open letter, Ineos stated: “A year on from the signing of ‘The Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Deal’ we have not seen the action necessary to stem the decline of European industry. Ineos has continued to invest in Europe; however, it is now an exception in a landscape of deindustrialization and closures.” Please read the complete open letter below:
Granules India Buys Swiss CDMO Senn Chemicals
Indian pharmaceutical company Granules India has agreed to acquire Senn Chemicals, a Swiss-based contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in peptides. The closing of the deal, which is subject to certain conditions, is expected to occur in the first half of 2025. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Air Products to Exit Three US-Based Projects
As part of a review initiated by Air Products’ newly-elected board of directors and CEO, the company decided to exit three projects in the US. As a result, Air Products expects to record a pre-tax charge not to exceed $3.1 billion in its fiscal 2025 second quarter, primarily to write down assets and terminate contractual commitments.
Symrise and Hofseth BioCare Partner on Marine Ingredients
German flavor and fragrance company Symrise has signed a strategic partnership with Hofseth BioCare (HBC), a Norwegian manufacturer of salmon-based ingredients for the human health and pet nutrition markets. With this partnership, Symrise wants to expand its presence in the health sector with clinically proven marine ingredients, the company said.
BASF Expands Cellasto MCU Production in India
BASF India Ltd. has broken ground on a new plant to increase the production capacity of its Cellasto microcellular polyurethane (MCU) in Dahej, India.
Nouryon Doubles Capacity of Chromatography Media in Sweden
Nouryon plans to expand its chromatography media manufacturing facility in Bohus, Sweden, doubling the site’s capacity. Construction will begin in early 2025, and the start of production is expected in early 2027, the company said.
Henkel Opens New Application Center in South Korea
Henkel recently announced the opening of its new Application Center in Busan, South Korea, marking a significant investment in the global sports & fashion industry.
Pritzker Private Capital Acquires Majority Stake in Americhem
US investment company Pritzker Private Capital (PPC) has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Americhem, a family-owned US manufacturer of custom color masterbatch, performance additive and engineered compound solutions.
FibroGen Sells Chinese Subsidiary to AstraZeneca
US-based biotechnology company FibroGen announced the sale of its China subsidiary to AstraZeneca for approximately $160 million.
Sanofi and CD&R Sign Share Purchase Agreement for Opella
Following completion of the required social and corporate procedures, Sanofi and CD&R have signed the share purchase agreement for the sale of a 50% controlling stake in its consumer health business Opella to US private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).
Global Leaders Launch Innovative Circularity Pilot
The Global Impact Coalition (GIC), a CEO-led collaborative platform originally incubated at the World Economic Forum, launches the world’s first Automotive Plastics Circularity pilot together with seven global leaders in the chemical and recycling industries.
Lanxess Opens Application Development Center in India
German specialty chemicals company Lanxess inaugurated its India Application Development Center (IADC) in Mumbai.
Harmful Patent Strategies
EU Commission imposes heavy fine of €462.6 million on Teva for abuse of dominant market position.
TotalEnergies and Air Liquide to Invest €1 Billion in Dutch Green Hydrogen Projects
TotalEnergies and Air Liquide have signed agreements to develop two projects in the Netherlands, for the production and delivery of some 45,000 t/y of green hydrogen produced using renewable power, generated mostly by the OranjeWind offshore wind farm, developed by TotalEnergies (50%) and RWE (50%).
LG Chem Launches Production of Bio-Acrylic Acid
South Korean chemicals group LG Chem plans to start production of bio-acrylic acid in the second quarter of this year. Initial production capacity will be 100 metric tons (MT) per year, with plans to expand as demand for environmentally friendly resources grows.
Gevo and Axens Broaden their SAF Partnership
US clean technology company Gevo and French technology provider Axens have formed a new strategic alliance to accelerate development and commercialization of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using the ethanol-to-jet (ETJ) pathway.
Fujifilm Ramps up Capacity for Semiconductor Materials in Belgium
Fujifilm plans to invest approximately €25 million to install new production facilities for chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) slurries, which are used in advanced semiconductors, as well as enhance existing facilities for photolithography-related materials at its site in Antwerp, Belgium.
Novonesis Acquires Feed Enzyme Alliance Share from DSM-Firmenich
Novonesis has reached an agreement with its partner DSM-Firmenich to dissolve the Feed Enzyme Alliance and take over its sales and distribution activities, for a total cash payment of €1.5 billion. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.
Novartis to Acquire Anthos Therapeutics
Swiss drugmaker Novartis has agreed to acquire Anthos Therapeutics, a Boston, US-based biopharmaceutical company with its lead compound abelacimab, a late-stage medicine in development for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation.
First Companies to Produce at Oman’s Ladayn Polymer Park
Global integrated energy group OQ announced that three companies, representing a combined investment of $42 million, will start operations at Oman’s Ladayn Polymer Park in early 2025.
Syensqo and Bota Bio Partner on Haircare
Syensqo recently announced a strategic five-year partnership with Bota Bio, a global industrial biotechnology company specializing in biomanufactured, clean, and high-performance consumer products.
Johnson Matthey, Bosch to Partner on Hydrogen Technology
UK sustainable technologies group Johnson Matthey (JM) and German engineering giant Bosch have agreed on a long-term collaboration to develop and produce high-performance catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) for use in hydrogen fuel cells.
Bain to Acquire Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma for $3.3 Billion
US private equity company Bain Capital has agreed to acquire Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. (MTPC) from Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corp. in a deal that values the business at approximately 510 billion Japanese yen ($3.3 billion).
BP Wants to Sell German Refinery in Gelsenkirchen
Oil giant BP announced plans to sell its refinery in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, operating under the name Ruhr Oel. The assets to be divested include the refinery in Gelsenkirchen and DHC Solvent Chemie in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
Jabil Acquires CDMO Pharmaceutics International
Jabil, a global provider of engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain solutions, has acquired Pharmaceutics International (Pii), a US contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in early-stage, clinical, and commercial volume aseptic filling, lyophilization, and oral solid dose manufacturing. Financial details of the transaction, which was completed on Feb. 3, 2025, were not given.
Air Products Appoints Eduardo F. Menezes CEO
Air Products recently announced the appointment of Eduardo F. Menezes as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Products effective February 7, 2025, succeeding Seifollah (“Seifi”) Ghasemi, who is leaving the Company after more than 10 years of dedicated service.
Repsol Greenlights €800 Million Ecoplant Investment
Spanish energy and petrochemicals group Repsol has approved an investment of more than €800 million to build its Ecoplant in the area of Tarragona, Spain. The first of its kind in Europe, the facility will use urban waste to produce renewable fuels and circular products through gasification, the company said.
ChiralVision and Ecovyst Partner on Industrial Biocatalysis
Ecovyst, a provider of advanced materials, specialty catalysts, sulfuric acid and regeneration services, and ChiralVision, a developer of biocatalysis-based technologies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a partnership in the field of enzyme immobilization.
Upperton Completes Sterile Manufacturing Facility in UK
UK contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Upperton Pharma Solutions, has completed its new sterile manufacturing facility in Nottingham, UK, expanding its capacity in addition to its existing 50,000-square-foot site at Trent Gateway.
Solvias Opens New Testing Center in North Carolina, US
Solvias, a Switzerland-headquartered provider of chemistry, manufacturing, and control (CMC) analytics, has opened the first phase of its 50,000-square-foot testing center for biologics and cell and gene therapy in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina, US.
Eurocolour Elects New Presidential Board
Eurocolour, the European umbrella organization for manufacturers of pigments, dyes, fillers, and ceramic decoration products, welcomes four new members to its Presidential Board.
Julie Kim to Succeed Christophe Weber as CEO of Takeda
Takeda has appointed Julie Kim, currently president of the company’s US business unit, to succeed Christophe Weber as CEO in June 2026, who will retire after 12 years in this role.
AstraZeneca Plans $570 Million Investment in Canada
To support the move to a larger office facility in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, AstraZeneca plans to invest $570 million in Canada, creating more than 700 jobs.
