Industry experts Michelangelo Canzoneri, Josef Trapl, Wolfgang Winter, Christian Woelbeling, and Thomas Zimmer – all members of ISPE’s Pharma 4.0 guide core team – explain the transformational challenges and critical success factors of the digital Pharma 4.0 journey.
A study on logistics in the chemical industry shows that there is a significant need to develop a more professional approach to supply chain and logistics planning and the use of digitalization and AI, but that the industry is currently struggling with limited resources and budget constraints.
CDMO Serán BioScience recently announced that it has completed an expansion to increase the number of process manufacturing suites at its facility in Bend, Oregon, from 6 to 14, adding approximately 130% more cGMP clinical manufacturing capacity.
Lonza recently announced that it has completed a planned expansion of the mid-scale microbial manufacturing facility at its Visp, Switzerland site. This multi-product facility was recently granted a GMP license, allowing cGMP manufacturing and release of biologics produced using microbial fermentation.
Keen Vision Acquisition Corp. (KVAC) and Medera, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, have entered into a merger agreement. Upon closing of the merger, which is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2024, the combined company will operate under the name Medera.
US green technology firm LanzaTech has signed an agreement with Sekisui Chemical to deploy, at commercial scale, a jointly developed platform that converts syngas derived from municipal solid waste (MSW) and industrial solid waste into ethanol. Sekisui intends to build multiple facilities in municipalities across Japan which incorporate equipment packages, engineering and advisory services, consumables, and intellectual property provided by LanzaTech, the companies said.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has agreed to acquire a 35% equity stake in ExxonMobil’s proposed low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Baytown, Texas, US.
Olon continues its growth path and increases its total production capacity following the acquisition of Huvepharma Italia and its site in Garessio, Cuneo, in the northwestern part of Italy.
Evonik has completed the expansion of its MetAmino (DL-methionine) production facilities in Singapore and the production on Jurong Island is again running at full capacity, after shutdowns in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the second quarter of 2024.
QatarEnergy has decided to build a new, world-scale urea production complex in Mesaieed Industrial City. The project comprises the construction of three ammonia production lines that will supply feedstock to four new urea production trains at the site.
Belgium-headquartered biopharmaceutical company UCB is to sell its mature neurology and allergy business in China to Singapore-based asset management group CBC and investor Mubadala, based in Abu Dhabi, for $680 million.
The evolution of the CDMO sector is propelled by rising manufacturing standards, the advent of groundbreaking therapies, and a shift towards personalized medicine. CHEManager asked executives and industry experts from a broad range of CDMOs to share their views on how their companies are dealing with this changing economic environment and the resulting opportunities and challenges.
US paints and coatingsmaker PPG has agreed to sell its silicas products business for abou $310 million to Warsaw, Poland-based Qemetica, a manufacturer of soda ash, silicates and other specialty chemicals. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions.
The 1st GPCA Startup Nexus will take place during the GPCA Forum, December 2-5, 2025 in Muscat, Oman.
BASF's Coatings division has inaugurated its new application and technical center in Jiangmen, China, which is located within the site of BASF Coatings (Guangdong) (BCG).
Chinese chemical group Wanhua has launched its 48,000-ton-per-year citral production facility in Yantai, China.
Barentz recently appointed Lars Schneider as the new Chief Executive Officer for the EMEA region, starting October 1st, 2024. Lars will also become a member of the Barentz Board.
Aurigene Pharmaceutical Services, the CRDMO arm of India-based Dr. Reddy’s, has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kainomyx, a US-based company with a proprietary platform that helps target cytoskeletal proteins of parasites, for the development and commercialization of an affordable anti-malarial drug in in the US, Europe, and in low and middle-income countries.
US industrial gases producer Air Products has agreed to acquire Saneg’s hydrogen production assets at the Fergana oil refinery in Uzbekistan for $140 million.
Novartis announced it has partnered with Versant Ventures to form Borealis Biosciences, an independent, discovery-stage biotechnology company based in Vancouver, Canada, focused on developing next-generation xRNA-based medicines for kidney diseases.
In a move to grow and upgrade its circular and low carbon solutions business, chemical producer LyondellBasell is to acquire full ownership of plastic recycler APK in Merseburg, Germany. Closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.
In order to meet significantly higher demand from its parent company Novo Nordisk, Novo Nordisk Pharmatech is planning to build a new factory at a 47,000 m² site in Køge, Denmark, which it acquired in March 2023.
Bora Pharmaceuticals, a Taiwan-headquartered contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has completed the acquisition of Emergent BioSolutions' sterile manufacturing facility in Baltimore-Camden, Maryland, USA. The facility adds drug product fill/finish to Bora’s extensive biologics drug substance capabilities.
A recent report by consulting company WittKiefer delves into the role of CDMOs within the pharmaceutical industry, evaluating the effectiveness of existing leadership structures and expertise in navigating market complexities.
Eli Lilly has completed its acquisition of Morphic, is a biopharmaceutical company developing oral integrin therapies for treatment of serious chronic diseases. The $3.2 billion deal was initially agreed upon by the companies in July 2024.
In a move to enhance its R&D capabilities, customer proximity, and market presence in the North of China, German flavors and fragrances manufacturer Symrise has opened a new office and lab facility for food & beverage in Beijing.
US chemical company Chemours has opened its Chemours Battery Innovation Center (CBIC), a laboratory facility located at the company’s Discovery Hub in Newark, Delaware, US. A multi-million-dollar investment, the CBIC supports the testing and scaling of next generation battery technologies, to enable more sustainable, cost-effective, energy-efficient, and high-performing batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), Chemours said.
The Ghanaian start-up Theseus Development produces an alternative material to cement-based concrete for the building industry called “geopolymer”. Not only is the material produced from the mineral that occurs in great abundance in the earth's crust as well as industrial waste, but the production process does not emit carbon dioxide either.
Honeywell and Spanish energy and petrochemicals group Repsol are collaborating to create new production pathways for biofuels and circular materials. The two companies will also explore the possible integration of these methods into Repsol’s existing facilities.
Manuchar, a global chemical distributor with headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Chilean company Proquiel Químicos.
Major US drugmaker MSD is to pay up to $1.3 billion to acquire CN201, a novel investigational clinical-stage bispecific antibody for the treatment of B-cell associated diseases, from biotechnology company Curon Biopharmaceutical.
US-headquartered biotech firm Recursion has announced that it will acquire UK-based pharmatech Exscientia in an all-stock deal. The transaction, which is expected to close in early 2025, would provide the combined entity with approximately $850 million in cash to fund its operations for the next three years. Reuters reported that Recursion will pay $688 million for the acquisition of Exscientia.
Pfizer is investing nearly $100 million in a major upgrade to its manufacturing facility in Melbourne, Australia, that is intended to produce new antimicrobial treatments to address rising levels of antimicrobial resistance.
French specialty chemicals producer SNF has agreed to acquire PfP Industries and Ace Fluid Solutions, two oil and gas fluids firms based in Texas, USA. The strategic acquisitions, SNP said, expands its offerings for the company’s upstream oil and gas customers. Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed.
In a move to accelerate its expansion into the $15 billion global waterproofing tape market, US adhesives major H.B. Fuller has acquired HS Butyl, the UK’s largest manufacturer and distributor of butyl tapes for a wide variety of applications within the construction, infrastructure, automotive and renewable energy industries. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
