Novo Nordisk and Neomorph to Develop Molecular Glue Drugs
US biotechnology company Neomorph signed a $1.46 billion licensing agreement with Novo Nordisk to discover, develop and commercialize molecular glue degraders.
News
BMS to Invest $400 Million in Expansion of Dublin Site
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) wants to invest $400 million for the construction and design of a sterile drug product (SDP) facility at its Cruiserath campus in Dublin, Ireland, significantly expanding manufacturing and laboratory capacity at the site.
AkzoNobel Opens Paints and Coatings Plant in Pakistan
Dutch paints and coatings group AkzoNobel has been opened a new €26 million manufacturing plant Faisalabad, Pakistan – the company’s largest investment in the country to date.
Unilever Appoints Heiko Schipper as President of Nutrition Business
Unilever has appointed Heiko Schipper as President of the group’s Nutrition business, effective May 1, 2024.
Syngenta Group Cultivates Cross-Industry Collaborations for Agricultural Solutions
Syngenta Group announced important collaborations following the launch of its innovation accelerator platform Shoots by Syngenta in 2023. These collaborations, which connect expertise across industries and sectors, are aimed at making possible novel solutions to agricultural challenges more quickly and efficiently.
ICL Acquires Brazilian Biologicals Specialist Nitro 1000
ICL is to acquired Nitro 1000, a Brazilian manufacturer, developer and provider of biologicals for approximately $30 million.
Merck Opens New €20 Million Distribution Center in Brazil
Merck will open a new € 20 million distribution center in São Paulo, Brazil to better serve its Life Science customers in the region. The new space, which will be operational in late February, has an area of 13,000 square meters, which is twice as large as the former São Paulo location.
Air Liquide and Sasol Sign Renewable Energy Supply Deal in South Africa
French industrial gases company Air Liquide and South African energy company Sasol have signed a power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Enel Green Power for the long term supply of an additional capacity of 110 MW of renewable power to Sasol’s Secunda site in South Africa.
Arkema Signs Green Energy Supply Deals for US Sites
Arkema has signed long term renewable energy agreements for its US sites in Calvert City, Kentucky, Beaumont, Texas, Chatham, Virginia, and West Chester, Pennsylvania, as well as for all Bostik sites in the United States. The company said that these agreements are part of its climate plan.
AstraZeneca Completes Acquisitions of Gracell and Icosavax
Within a few days, Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca has completed the acquisitions of Gracell Biotechnologies and Icosavax. Both transactions were announced in December 2023.
NextChem to Buy Electrochemical Firms HyDEP and Dragoni Group
NextChem, part of Italian engineering group Maire Tecnimont, has signed a binding agreement to acquire 80% of HyDEP and 100% of Dragoni Group for a total of approximately €3.6 million.
Albemarle and BMW Sign New Long-Term Lithium Supply Deal
As part of a multi-year agreement, US specialty chemicals company Albemarle will supply German car manufacturer BMW with battery-grade lithium for its electric vehicles (EVs), starting in 2025.
Perstorp Opens New Penta Plant in India
Sweden-based specialty chemicals company Perstorp has built and commissioned a new ISCC Plus-certified plant in western India to meet the growing market demand for Penta chemicals.
LyondellBasell Buys Mechanical Recycling Assets in California
Olefins and polyolefins giant LyondellBasell (LYB) has acquired mechanical recycling assets containing rigid plastics recycling processing lines in the US from PreZero, a recycling and waste management service provider. The transaction, LYB said, includes the lease of the processing facility in Jurupa Valley, California, with a production capacity of approx. 23 million kg/year for recycled materials.
Evonik and Mainz University Partner to Commercialize Randomized PEGs
Evonik and the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany have signed a license agreement to commercialize randomized polyethylene glycols (rPEGs), a new class of PEGs.
Industry Leaders Call for Urgent Actions to Boost European Competitiveness
Today, 73 industry leaders from 20 industrial sectors handed over "The Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Deal" to Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 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.
Equinor Signs 15-Year LNG Supply Deal with Deepak
Norwegian energy group Equinor and India’s Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation (DFPCL) have signed a 15-year contract for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG), scheduled to start in 2026.
Bioweg – Revolutionizing The Future Of Bio-Ingredients
The German start-up Bioweg found a way to replace petroleum-based chemicals with innovative bio-alternatives through fermentation and green chemistry. The processing of waste products results in bacterial cellulose, which serves as a substitute for synthetic polymers and thus has diverse potential applications.
EU Approves €6.9 Billion State Aid for 33 Hydrogen Projects
In a move to improve the supply of renewable hydrogen and thus reduce dependence on natural gas and contribute to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU plan, the EU Commission has approved a third Important project of common European interest (IPCEI) to support hydrogen infrastructure.
CEFIC Calls for a Strengthened EU Single Market
CEFIC, the European Chemical Industry Council, together with 25 other regional industry associations, has issued a joint statement calling on the European Union (EU) to realize the true potential of the single market.
DSM-Firmenich to Carve out Its Animal Nutrition & Health Business
DSM-Firmenich, a sector giant in nutrition, health, and beauty, has initiated a process to spin off and separate its Animal Nutrition & Health (ANH) business.
Carbios and De Smet Engineers Collaborate on World’s First PET Biorecycling Plant
Carbios and De Smet Engineers & Contractors jointly announced their collaboration to spearhead the construction of the world's first PET biorecycling plant.
Solvay Completes Coal Phase-out at Wyoming Soda Ash Plant
Brussels, Belgium-headquartered chemical company Solvay has completed the coal phase-out initiative at its US site in Green River, Wyoming.
AkzoNobel Completes Expansion of its Largest Powder Coatings Plant
The major capacity expansion was completed at AkzoNobel’s Powder Coatings site in Como, Italy. The expansion is aimed to secure supply to customers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
Gilead to Buy Liver Drugmaker CymaBay for $4.3 Billion
US biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences is to acquire CymaBay Therapeutics for $4.3 billion. Gilead offered to purchase all outstanding shares of CymaBay for $32.50 per share in cash.
Viridor Takes Full Ownership of Norwegian Chemical Recycler Quantafuel
UK-based recycling and waste management company Viridor has closed the acquisition of Norwegian chemical recycler Quantafuel as the Oslo Stock Exchange delisted Quantafuel’s shares from Euronext Growth on Feb. 7.
Maire Tecnimont Awarded Green Hydrogen & Ammonia Plant Design Contract
Maire Tecnimont has been awarded a FEED contract by MadoquaPower2X to develop an integrated green hydrogen and green ammonia plant located in the industrial zone of Sines, Portugal. MadoquaPower2x is a consortium comprised of Madoqua Renewables, Power2X, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), through its Energy Transition Fund.
Air Liquide and Dow Renew Supply Deal for German Site
Air Liquide and Dow renewed their industrial gas supply agreement for Dow’s chemical production site in Stade, Germany. Under the long-term agreement, Air Liquide will supply industrial gases and invest almost €40 million in modernizing its facilities to increase operational efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions.
LG Chem Inks Battery Material Supply Deal with GM
South Korean chemicals group LG Chem has secured a long-term cathode material supply contract with General Motors (GM), worth KRW 25 trillion (about $19 billion). LG Chem intends to use its US cathode plant in Tennessee as a production center for the global battery materials market.
AstraZeneca to Construct New US Cell Therapy Facility
In a move to launch its cell therapy platforms for critical cancer trials in the US, AstraZeneca is investing $300 million in a new facility in Rockville, Maryland. The site will initially focus on the production of T-cell therapies, with the possibility of supporting other disease areas in the future.
Novo Holdings to Acquire Catalent for $16.5 Billion
Novo Holdings, Novo Nordisk's parent company, is acquiring US contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Catalent for $16.5 billion. The companies said that Novo Holdings will acquire all outstanding shares of Catalent for $63.50 per share in cash.
Brenntag Acquires a Chemical Logistics Site in Italy
Brenntag announced the agreement to acquire a chemical logistics site of Chimica D’Agostino in Italy. The site is located in the industrial area of the city of Bari, well connected with Adriatic highway, and with easy access to harbours on the seaside.
Bertrand Piccard Unveils Climate Impulse
Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard has revealed his latest project: an emission-free airplane powered by green hydrogen. The aircraft aims to achieve a non-stop flight around the Earth, showcasing practical solutions for a cleaner and more efficient world. Partnering with Syensqo, this technological and environmental adventure will push the boundaries of innovation. The airplane is being developed in France by engineer and navigator Raphaël Dinelli.
MSD Animal Health to Acquire Elanco’s Aqua Business
MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the aqua business of Elanco Animal Health Incorporated for €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) in cash. The acquisition is expected to be completed by mid-year 2024, subject to approvals from regulatory authorities and other customary closing conditions.
Siegfried Announces Changes in Senior Management Team
Siegfried has appointed Marianne Späne, currently chief business officer Drug Products, as chief business officer with responsibility for both the Drug Substances and Drug Products divisions of the Swiss contract manufacturing and development organization (CDMO), effective Feb. 1, 2024. Christian Dowdeswell, who previously led the Drug Substance business, has decided to leave Siegfried.
