Grace Expands Michigan Fine Chemicals Site
W. R. Grace is expanding its fine chemicals contract development and manufacturing facility in South Haven, Michigan, USA. The project is scheduled for completion in January 2024.
News
CDC Study Finds Glyphosate in most Urine Samples
Glyphosate and the former Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup have returned to the headlines following last month’s publication of a 2013-2014 study by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that that found traces of the herbicide’s active ingredient in the majority of urine samples collected.
Japan’s Ube Plans DMC/EMC Production in the US
Japan’s Ube has selected an undisclosed location in the US state of Louisiana as the site for a planned dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) production facility.
FDA Finally Greenlights Novavax Covid Vaccine
It took longer than expected, but the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 13 finally granted an Emergency Authorization (EUA) to Nuaxovid, the protein-based sCovid-19 shot developed by Novavax.
Boehringer Ingelheim, Evotec and BioMérieux Link on AMR
German biopharma Boehringer Ingelheim, compatriot CDMO Evotec and French diagnostics firm BioMérieux have formed a joint venture to develop a new approach to fight the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections.
AkzoNobel Spends €20 Million on Improving French Sites
Dutch paints and coatings group AkzoNobel has announced it will spend €20 million to increase and improve production at two of its sites in France, creating around 30 new jobs.
Fujifilm Invests $1.6 Billion for Cell Culture Expansion
Fujifilm is preparing to invest $1.6 billion to ramp up the cell culture manufacturing services of its CDMO subsidiary Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies.
Shell to Build Europe’s Largest Renewable Hydrogen Plant
Shell is going ahead with plans to bring Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen plant on stream by 2025.
3M Agrees PFAS Clean-up with Flemish Government
US conglomerate 3M has agreed with the Flemish government to spend more than €571 million on cleaning up PFAS-contamination at its site in Belgium. The Flemish government had ordered 3M to halt PFAS production at Zwijndrecht last October because of contamination levels.
US Government Buys 3 Million Novavax Doses
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) have ordered 3.2 million doses of Novavax’s Covid-19 vaccine, even before the protein-based and adjuvanted shot has cleared the US Food and Drug Administration.
Petrobras Closes Deten Sale to CEPSA
Brazilian oil group Petrobras has finalized the sale of its entire 27.88% stake in linear alkyl benzene (LAB) producer Deten Quimica to Spanish energy and petrochemicals group CEPSA Quimica for 514 million Brazilian reais.
HRA Pharma Seeks FDA Approval for OTC Contraceptive
In the wake of the US Supreme Court’s recent overturn of Roe v. Wade, a 50-year-old decision by an earlier team of justices that guarantees women the right terminate a pregnancy, attention has turned to the so-called morning-after pill mifepristone – which remains legal for now – and easier access to birth control.
Change of Owners for The Lycra Company
A group of four financial institutions have gained full control of The Lycra Company after former owner Ruyi Textile and Fashion International Group defaulted on a $400 million loan associated with its purchase from Invista in January 2019.
FDA Panel Says Omicron Shots Best for Autumn
While Europe still deliberates, and municipalities monitor sewage to pinpoint the further spread of coronavirus subvariants, especially those evolving from the omicron variant, the US Food and Drug Administration’s advisory panel has voted 19-2 to recommend that the government’s autumn vaccination program be based on the second generation mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.
Avantium and Carlsberg Ink Offtake Deal for FDCA
Dutch biopolymer producer Avantium has won a new customer along the path to commercializing its renewable polyethylenefuranoate (PEF) as a replacement for fossil-fuel based PET, the material most used for plastic beverage bottles.
FMC to Buy Denmark’s BioPhero
US-based agricultural sciences company FMC has entered into an agreement to buy BioPhero, a Danish pheromone research and production firm, for about $200 million.
Lonza Builds Swiss Fill & Finish Facility
Swiss CDMO Lonza plans to build a large-scale commercial fill & finish facility in Stein. The new facility, to be located on the same campus as Lonza’s existing clinical drug product capabilities, will cost roughly 500 million Swiss francs and should be completed in 2026.
Biden and EPA Seek Supreme Court Workaround
The administration of US president Joe Biden is looking for ways to work around the Supreme Court’s recent landmark ruling that limits the Environmental Protection Agency’s role in regulating emissions of greenhouse gases.
AkzoNobel to Buy Lankwitzer’s Wheel Liquid Coatings
AkzoNobel has agreed to buy the wheel liquid coatings business of Berlin-based Lankwitzer Lackfabrik for an undisclosed sum.
Domo and Hynamics Team up on Sustainable PA
Leuna, Germany-based PA producer Domo Chemicals is teaming up with low-carbon hydrogen producer Hynamics, a wholly owned subsidiary of French energy group EDF, to produce sustainable polyamides from hydrogen, using output from the Belle-Étoile industrial site in Saint-Fons, France.
CureVac Sues BioNTech for IP Infringement
Germany’s BioNTech is pushing back against allegations by compatriot CureVac that the company infringed its intellectual property in formulating its mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, that it developed and marketed together with US drugs giant Pfizer.
Thyssenkrupp Nucera Wins India Caustic Soda Project
German technology company Thyssenkrupp Nucera has won a contract to expand a caustic soda plant for India’s Kutch Chemical Industries. The contract’s value is in the low double-digit million-euro range.
Koch Takes OCP’s Stake in Jorf Fertilizers
US-based Koch Ag & Energy Solutions (KAES) has acquired a 50% stake in Jorf Fertilizers Company III (JFC III) from Moroccan phosphates and fertilizer giant OCP and at the same time established a 50:50 joint venture with OCP.
Polynt Plans Plasticizer Plant in Mexico
Polynt, an Italian manufacturer of chemical intermediates, is planning to build a new esterification plant to produce plasticizers – and mainly trimellitates – at its site in Atlacomulco, Mexico, in order to meet rising demand.
LyondellBasell Signs PPAs for US Renewable Energy
LyondellBasell (LYB) has pledged to cover at least 50% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030.
Yara Details Clean Ammonia Plans
Yara International has outlined an ambitious growth plan for its Clean Ammonia business, with “significant” investment decisions targeted over the next three years.
Sanofi Joins Pfizer in nonprofit Drug Distribution
Two globally oriented drugmakers, Pfizer and Sanofi, are making moves that some may interpret as attempts to allay the pharma industry‘s reputation for being “only in it for the money” but could potentially benefit poorer countries if all goes to plan.
Arkema Completes Permoseal Acquisition
Arkema has closed its acquisition of South Africa’s Permoseal, a move designed to strengthen and complete the portfolio of its adhesives subsidiary Bostik.
Azelis Continues Acquisition Spree with Buys in Lebanon, Turkey
Azelis is continuing its recent acquisition spree with agreements to buy two more companies in Lebanon and Turkey.
Trinseo and GMP Partner on PS Recycling
Trinseo and Dutch firm GMP Group are setting up a framework for an exclusive cooperation to further progress the circulatory of PS.
Lanxess Wraps up IFF Microbial Unit Buy
German specialty chemicals producer Lanxess has wrapped up its acquisition of International Flavors & Fragrances’s microbial control business unit, a year after announcing the $1.3 billion deal with the US company in August 2021.
Italmatch Boosts Oil & Gas Chemicals with Aubin Buy
Italian multinational specialty chemicals company Italmatch has acquired Aubin Group from investment firm BGF, its owner since October 2013. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Croda Wins US Backing for Lipid Systems Expansion
UK specialty chemical company Croda International will receive up to $75 million from the US government to expand its US capacity to produce ingredients for lipid systems used in novel therapeutic drugs, such as mRNA vaccines.
US Supreme Court Challenges EPA Role in Climate Rules
The mission of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under US president Joe Biden for the past 18 months has been to restore some of the Obama era anti-pollution regulations overturned by the former president Donald Trump.
Neste Buys European Rights to Alterra’s Liquefaction Technology
Neste has bought the European rights to Alterra Energy’s liquefaction technology.
