Integrated Drug Development Models
Interview with Giovanna Libralon, Senior Director Commercial Development Small Molecules at Lonza.
News
Supreme Court Unlikely to Hear Bayer’s Roundup Plea
Bayer’s advice to shareholders expressing concern about the development of the company’s stock at its early May annual general meeting, to bide their time and wait for the US Supreme Court to deal with the issue of warning labels for agrochemicals packaging, seems to have been too hasty.
Green Lithium and Trafigura Link for UK Refinery Project
UK lithium processing company Green Lithium has agreed terms with major commodities trader Trafigura to build a commercial lithium refinery. The facility, to be built at an undisclosed location in the UK, will supply high-purity lithium hydroxide to both UK and European markets. Wood will oversee the refinery’s engineering, construction and commissioning.
LyondellBasell Says It’s Quitting Russia
Olefins and polyolefins giant LyondellBasell (LYB) has become the latest multinational chemical company to announce plans to pull out of Russia partly or altogether. The Rotterdam-registered, Houston-managed company said this week it has decided “to cease operations” at two office locations in in the country. Its offices in Moscow and Togliatti have now begun winding down activities.
Tecnicas Reunidas Wins Ineos Cracker Project
Spain’s Tecnicas Reunidas has won a contract for Ineos’ ethylene cracker project in Antwerp, Belgium. The scope of work includes project management, engineering, procurement and construction management and supervision services. The value of the contract was not disclosed.
MOL Plans Large Green Hydrogen Facility
Hungarian oil, gas and petrochemicals group MOL has teamed up with US hydrogen systems supplier Plug Power to build a green hydrogen production plant in Százhalombatta. MOL is investing €22 million in the project.
Solvay Launches Renewables Platform
Brussels-based chemical major Solvay is launching a fourth new business platform called Renewable Materials and Biotechnology, dedicated to developing innovative and sustainable solutions for a range of markets and using renewable feedstocks and biotechnology.
GEFO invests €400 million
The shipping company Gefo is building a range of new specialized tankers at shipyards in China, Turkey, Romania and the Netherlands.
Expert Statement: Thomas Dassler, Managing Director, Häffner
CHEManager asked executives and industry experts to share their views on the prospects for the chemical distribution sector.
Expert Statement: Christopher Erbslöh, Managing Director, C.H. Erbslöh
CHEManager asked executives and industry experts to share their views on the prospects for the chemical distribution sector.
Expert Statement: Neville Prior, Group Chairman, Cornelius Group
CHEManager asked executives and industry experts to share their views on the prospects for the chemical distribution sector.
Expert Statement: Felix Thalmann, CEO, BÜFA Group
CHEManager asked executives and industry experts to share their views on the prospects for the chemical distribution sector.
Expert Statement: Robert Späth, Managing Partner, CSC Jäklechemie
CHEManager asked executives and industry experts to share their views on the prospects for the chemical distribution sector.
Expert Statement: Hans Joachim Müller, Group CEO, Azelis
CHEManager asked executives and industry experts to share their views on the prospects for the chemical distribution sector.
Yara Evaluates IPO of Clean Ammonia Business
Norwegian fertilizer company Yara International is evaluating a potential initial public offering (IPO) of its Clean Ammonia business on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Yara Clean Ammonia (YCA) was established as a separate business unit in February 2021 to focus on clean ammonia and its role in zero-emission shipping fuel, power generation, green fertilizer production and other industrial applications.
Expert Statement: Christian Kohlpaintner, CEO, Brenntag
CHEManager asked executives and industry experts to share their views on the prospects for the chemical distribution sector.
Expert Statement: Thorsten Harke President, Harke Group
CHEManager asked executives and industry experts to share their views on the prospects for the chemical distribution sector.
Prospects for the Chemical Distribution Industry
The chemical distribution business is a diverse industry that provides customized solutions for important sectors such as pharmaceuticals, paints & coatings, agriculture, cosmetics, food & feed, and automotive. At the center of the supply chains of these sectors, distributors are critical partners for global corporations as well as for SMEs. This role has become particularly obvious and relevant during the corona crisis.
Braskem and Lummus Link on Green PE Technology
Brazilian chemicals and plastics giant Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas, has sealed a licensing deal with process engineering firm Lummus Technology covering worldwide production of green ethylene.
Kemira and Danimer Scientific Collaborate on Coatings
Finnish chemicals company Kemira has entered into a multi-year license and supply agreement with US biopolymer manufacturer Danimer Scientific to commercialize bio-based barrier coatings for paper and board products.
LyondellBasell Wins China PE Contracts
LyondellBasell has won contracts to provide its Lupotech PE technology to two separate Chinese companies. The value of the contracts was not disclosed.
Ineos Takes Step toward Green Hydrogen Network
Ineos is pressing full speed ahead to implement its investment strategy for green hydrogen across Europe. In its latest move, the company said it is participating in a project with SGN, the network that distributes natural and “green” gas across the south of England as well as Scotland, to build a UK-wide delivery network for hydrogen.
M&A Activity in the Chemical Distribution Industry
Mergers & acquisitions activity in the chemical distribution industry was high in 2021, but current macro-economic conditions may have a dampening effect on the number of deals that will conclude by the end of this year.
US Court Awards Huntsman Damages Against Praxair
A US court has awarded Huntsman damages in a long-running legal battle against Praxair, now part of Linde. A New Orleans jury has granted the Texas-headquartered chemical manufacturer nearly $94 million, which will exceed $125 million once the Court has applied interest.
Arxada and Novoset to Collaborate on Novel Composites
Arxada, the recent specialty chemicals spinoff from Swiss CDMO Lonza, has signed an exclusive license agreement with Novoset covering production and sale of a next generation hydrocarbon-based resin system for telecommunications infrastructure and advanced semiconductor packaging.
Domo to Expand PA 6 Compounding in China
German polyamide specialist Domo Chemicals said it plans to significantly increase its PA 6 compounding capacity in China up to the end of 2023. As this is the fastest growing market for polyamides globally, the company based at Leuna said the expansion will help local manufacturers keep pace with emerging trends and create “innovative, high-performance and sustainable products and applications.”
Symeres Boosts US Foothold with Organix Buy
Symeres, a Dutch CDMO and contract research organization, has acquired Organix, a US-based specialized organic chemistry services producer that focuses on lipids. The two firms are highly complementary and the combination unlocks significant strategic value, said Symeres, which generates nearly 50% of its revenues in the US.
ADNOC Takes Over Mubadala Stake in Borealis
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) is taking over Mubadala’s holding in Borealis for an undisclosed sum. Once the transaction, which is subject to the usual conditions and regulatory approvals, is finalized, Borealis will be owned 25% by ADNOC and 75% by Austrian oil, gas and petrochemicals group OMV.
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant in Thai Venture
Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP), a Belgian-based facility that provides process development, scale-up and custom manufacture of bio-based products and processes, has formed a 50:50 joint venture with Thailand’s National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) to build a multi-purpose, open-access biorefinery pilot plant, inspired by its own success in installing an identical facility in Ghent.
Germany’s Merck to Expand Wuxi Production Site
Germany’s Merck has signed has an agreement with the Administrative Management Committee of Wuxi National High-Tech Industrial Development Zone to “significantly expand” the company’s first Asia-Pacific Mobius Single-Use manufacturing center in China.
Air Products Wins Gases Project in Taiwan
Air Products has won a contract from one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers to supply industrial gases to a new production plant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Air Products San Fu will invest about $900 million to build, own and operate a number of onsite plants to supply ultra-high purity nitrogen, oxygen, argon and hydrogen.
Standard Industries Takes Stake in Johnson Matthey
The investment arm of US industrial group Standard Industries has taken a 5.23% stake in UK-based multinational specialty chemicals and sustainable technologies company Johnson Matthey. Neither company has commented on the transaction.
Shaping the Future of the Pharma Industry
The International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) announced the 2022 Facility of the Year Awards (FOYA) Category Winners – including an Honorable Mention for Iovance Biotherapeutics, to be the first company in the world to commercially produce a personalized therapy for solid tumors.
Achilles Therapeutics Expands in UK, USA
UK biopharma Achilles Therapeutics has announced its intention to expand clinical manufacturing capacity in Stevenage, UK, and Pennsylvania, USA.
China’s Quest for Self-sufficiency in Chemicals
One of China’s key objectives of the current 14th Five-Year Plan is to reduce the dependency on imports. At least partly, this is a reaction to rising political tensions with the USA.
