At the Cutting Edge of Catalysis Innovation
In this interview, Phillip Chalabi, Umicore’s director Strategic Projects and Innovation, gives an overview of the company’s activities in precious metal chemistry.
News
Ori Biotech Reveals Automated Platform for Cell & Gene Therapy Production
Ori Biotech a cell and gene therapy (CGT) manufacturing technology producer, recently announced the commercial launch of IRO, a next-generation platform.
Sterling Expands HPAPI Capabilities at US Facility
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 to Collaborate on Renewable Chemicals in Japan
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.
Wacker Buys Manufacturing Assets and Know-how of Bio Med Sciences
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 Completes Acquisition of 35% Stake in Natpet from Alujain
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 Launches Drug Discovery Services Division
Enzene Biosciences, a global CDMO announces the launch of a new Drug Discovery Division.
ConocoPhillips to Acquire Marathon Oil
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.
Hanwha, Ineos to Study Low-Carbon Ammonia Plant in the US
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 to Supply Koch with Urea under 15-Year Deal
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.
MSD to Acquire EyeBio for up to $3 Billion
US drugmaker Merck & Co. (MSD) has agreed to acquire privately held ophthalmology-focused biotechnology company Eyebiotech (EyeBio).
J&J Acquires Rights to Numab's Bispecific Antibody NM26
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.
Lilly Increases Investment in Indiana Site to $9 Billion
Eli Lilly plans to invest another $5.3 billion in its US manufacturing site Lebanon, Indiana, increasing the company's total investment in this site $9 billion. The investment will expand Lilly's capacity to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) for tirzepatide injections marketed under the Zepbound and Mounjaro brands.
AkzoNobel To Close Three Manufacturing Sites
AkzoNobel has announced the intention to close the manufacturing sites of Groot-Ammers (The Netherlands), Cork (Ireland), and Lusaka (Zambia) and transfer the production to other locations in the region.
Biogen Acquires Human Immunology Biosciences
Biogen and Human Immunology Biosciences (HI-Bio), a privately-held clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on targeted therapies for patients with severe immune-mediated diseases (IMDs), have entered into a definitive agreement. Biogen has agreed to acquire HI-Bio for $1.15 billion (€1.06 billion) upfront and up to $650 million (€600.5 million) in potential milestone payments.
EuroAPI Secures €130-150 Million Animal Health Contract
EuroAPI has entered into a Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) agreement with a global animal health company.
US Chemical Producers Express Optimism about Economy
US chemical manufacturers report their company’s activity level overall (e.g., sales, production, output) improved in the first quarter of 2024, according to the latest findings from American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Chemical Manufacturing Economic Sentiment Index (ESI). While chemical manufacturers’ sentiment regarding the state of the global economy remained negative in Q1, their assessment of the US economy improved.
DuPont to Split Into Three Companies, CEO Breen Resigns
On Wednesday, DuPont announced plans to separate into three publicly traded companies. The Electronics and Water businesses will become independent companies, with the remainder of the company to comprise New DuPont. The splits are expected to be complete within 18 to 24 months, and do not require shareholder approval, the company said.
Genmab Completes Acquisition of ProfoundBio
Genmab has completed its $1.8 billion acquisition of ProfoundBio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and ADC technologies for the treatment of cancers.
H.B. Fuller Acquires ND Industries
H.B. Fuller Company, the biggest pureplay adhesives company in the world, has acquired ND Industries, a leading provider of specialty adhesives and fastener locking and sealing solutions serving customers in the automotive, electronics, aerospace, and other industries.
AstraZeneca to Build $1.5 Billion ADC Production Facility in Singapore
In a move to enhance global supply of its antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) portfolio, AstraZeneca intends to build a $1.5 billion facility in Singapore for the manufacturing of ADCs.
MOL Inaugurates €1.3 Billion Polyols Complex in Hungary
Hungarian energy and petrochemicals group MOL has inaugurated its €1.3 billion polyol complex in Tiszaújváros, Hungary, with a capacity of around 200,000 t/y of polyol, a widely used plastic raw material.
BASF to Expand Additives Plant in China
BASF is to invest in the expansion of its advanced additives plant at Nanjing, China. The expansion includes a state-of-the-art production line for the company’s high-performance controlled free radical polymerization (CFRP) dispersants used in the coatings industry. The new line is planned to start up by the end of 2025.
Orion to Invest in Upgrade of Alpha Carbone Facility
US-headquartered specialty chemicals company Orion announced plans to invest in Alpha Carbone, a French tire recycling company. The partnership will enable Alpha Carbone to scale up its facility in Dole, France, and produce commercial volumes of tire pyrolysis oil and recovered carbon black.
Zila Bioworks – Revolutionizing Plastics
The American start-up Zila Bioworks is transforming hard-tech manufacturing with drastically cleaner, greener chemistry, while supporting rural communities.
Sanofi Invests €1 Billion to Boost Drug Manufacturing in France
On Monday, Paris-based French drugmaker Sanofi announced plans to invest more than €1 billion at three facilities in France to create new bioproduction capacity.
Sartorius and Sanofi Collaborate to Boost Downstream Process Efficiency
Life science group Sartorius and biopharmaceutical firm Sanofi are partnering to create a platform for continuous downstream bioprocessing. Sartorius will use its engineering and manufacturing skills to commercialize integrated and continuous biomanufacturing (ICB) platforms, using Sanofi’s prototypes. In exchange, Sanofi will provide Sartorius with exclusive access to its ICB platform knowledge and patents.
Life Sciences Industry Accelerates Growth
The top management of life sciences companies is very optimistic about 2024 and 2025, with over 80% of pharmaceutical, medical technology and biotechnology executives expecting profit growth for the current year and over 90% for the coming year. Around one in two companies expect profits to rise by more than 5% this year and 70% next year. These are the findings of the annual survey "Life Sciences Executives Flash Report" by consulting company Horváth.
Ashland to Sell Nutraceuticals Business to Turnspire Capital Partners
US specialty chemicals producer Ashland has signed a definitive agreement to sell its nutraceuticals business to Turnspire Capital Partners. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. Financial details of the transaction were not given.
Neste Appoints Heikki Malinen as President and CEO
Neste has appointed Heikki Malinen as president and CEO of Neste, effective Nov. 2, 2024, at the latest. He succeeds Matti Lehmus, who decided to leave the company. Malinen is currently a member of Neste’s board of directors, but will step down before taking up his new role.
Syensqo CEO Ilham Kadri Becomes CEFIC President
Ilham Kadri, CEO of Syensqo, takes on the role as president of the European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), succeeding Martin Brudermueller, effective today.
Ineos Completes Acquisition of LyondellBasell’s Ethylene Oxide & Derivatives Business
Ineos Oxide and LyondellBasell have completed the sale of LyondellBasell’s Ethylene Oxide & Derivatives (EO&D) business and associated production facilities located in Bayport, Texas to Ineos.
Novartis to Acquire Mariana Oncology
Swiss drugmaker Novartis agreed to acquire Mariana Oncology, a US biotechnology company based in Watertown, Massachusetts, that develops novel radioligand therapies (RLTs) for the treatment of cancer.
CEFIC Joins EU’s Critical Medicines Alliance to Strengthen API Supply
The European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC), through its subgroup European Fine Chemicals Group (EFCG), joined the Critical Medicines Alliance, an initiative of the European Commission to strengthen the supply of critical medicines in Europe.
Ono to Acquire Deciphera for $2.4 Billion
Japan’s Ono Pharmaceutical agreed to acquire US cancer-therapy company Deciphera Pharmaceuticals for approximately $2.4 billion. Deciphera focuses on innovative cancer therapeutics, and specializes in kinase biology.
