The Future of Biopharma
Porsche Consulting presents a vision of a high-end smart biopharmaceutical production unit and a corresponding operating model.
News
Chemical Industry – Surviving or Thriving in the Next Normal?
In his interview with CHEManager, Thorsten Wenzel, Vice President and global head of the industry business unit Chemicals at SAP, talks about most recent trends and developments shaping the future of the chemical industry.
Working with Data Instead of Documents
Cloud-based web applications offer substantial benefits for the digital transformation of the chemical industry.
Huntsman Expands Hungarian PU Catalyst Plant
Huntsman has announced plans to expand its production facilities for polyurethane catalysts and specialty amines at Petfurd, Hungary. The Texas-based US chemical producer did not say how much the capacity upgrade will cost, only that the “multi-million dollar” project is receiving a $3.8 million grant from the Hungarian government.
Japan Orders 150 Million Takeda-made Novavax Doses
Japanese drugmaker Takeda has clarified its plans to produce and distribute the Novavax Covid-19 shot in the country, if and when it is approved. After several delays, in its last announcement the US biotech said it planned to apply to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Emergency Use Authorization in this year’s fourth quarter.
Symrise Invests in US Beauty Products Firm
German flavor and fragrance company Symrise has acquired a 25% share in Kobo Products, a powder and dispersion specialist headquartered in South Plainfield, New Jersey, USA. Symrise said the investment is a strategic step to expand into inorganic UV filters and decorative cosmetics.
Kemira Hikes China ASA Capacity
Following the start of pre-engineering in May, Kemira has confirmed that it is adding extra production capacity for alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) sizing agent in China. The Finnish company is making a multi-million investment in a third production line at its site in Nanjing, Jiangsu province – it did not disclose capacity details.
MyRechemical and JM in Waste-to-Methanol Pact
MyRechemical, the dedicated waste-to-chemical-technology subsidiary of NextChem, part of Italy's Maire Tecnimont group, is collaborating with Johnson Matthey (JM) of the UK to commercialize waste-to-methanol technology worldwide.
Sanofi to Acquire US Biopharma Kadmon
Sanofi is continuing its drive to diversify and upgrade its pharmaceuticals portfolio through acquisitions. In its latest move, the French drugmaker said it has signed a definitive merger agreement with US biotech Kadmon, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in treatments for unmet needs in transplant medication.
ENI and Mubadala Explore Joint Hydrogen Opportunities
Italian multinational oil and gas group ENI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mubadala Petroleum of Abu Dhabi to identify cooperation opportunities in the energy transition sector, including in the areas of hydrogen and carbon capture, utilization and storage.
Avantor Expanding in Polish and US Markets
As part of an investment in its global hydration capabilities, US CDMO Avantor recently completed a major expansion of its production facility at Gliwice, Poland – the company’s European manufacturing flagship – and has begun a multi-stage expansion of the plant at Aurora, Ohio, USA, due to be completed by mid-2022.
Covestro Planning to Cut 10% of Workforce
German engineering plastics producer Covestro, the former BayerMaterialScience, has surprised both its workforce and the markets with plans unveiled last week to eliminate 10% of the Leverkusen-based company’s jobs. More than half of the job losses would affect its German home market.
LyondellBasell Wins Repsol PP Project
LyondellBasell has been selected by Spanish energy and chemicals company Repsol Químic to provide its Spherizone technology for a PP plant to be built in Portugal. The 300,000 t/y plant will be located at Repsol’s existing complex in Sines and is due for startup by 2025.
Opioids Deal Dissolves Purdue Pharma
At the end of a long-running controversial case, US drugmaker Purdue Pharma, manufacturer of the opioid painkiller OxyContin, has won court approval for a multibillion-dollar restructuring plan it helped to engineer that will shelter the company and its principal owners, the Sackler family, from lawsuits.
Azelis Plans Brussels IPO
Leading specialty chemicals distributor Azelis has announced plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on the Euronext Brussels exchange, aiming to raise €880 million to pay down debt and support its growth plans.
A Roadmap for Pharma 4.0
Industry experts Josef Trapl, Wolfgang Winter, Christian Woelbeling, and Thomas Zimmer – all members of ISPE’s Pharma 4.0 group – talk about the idea behind ISPE’s Pharma 4.0 initiative and the challenges on the way to realize the digital transformation of the pharmaceutical industry.
LanzaTech and Twelve Partner on PP from CO2
US green technology firm LanzaTech is collaborating with compatriot company Twelve, with the two combining their platform technologies to develop what they said would be the world’s first PP made from CO2 emissions.
Invista Beefing up PA Output in Shanghai
Invista Nylon Chemicals (China), subsidiary of Wichita, Kansas-based US polyamide giant Invista, has announced a major expansion of its PA 6.6 capacity in China’s Shanghai Chemical Industry Park (SCIP), which It said will strengthen its integrated production chain in the People’s Republic.
Europe to Return J&J Covid Shots to Africa
Doses of Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine made at Aspen Pharmacare’s facility in South Africa and shipped to Europe to fill contractual obligations will now be sent back to Africa, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has reported.
Casale Wins Russian Melamine Project
Casale has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia’s Metafrax Chemicals for the construction of a melamine plant. The facility will be built at Metrafrax’s site in Gubakha in Russia’s Perm region
Nouryon to Build Bermocoll Plant in Southeast Asia
Dutch specialty chemicals producer Nouryon is planning to build a new 15-20,000 t/y production facility for innovative and sustainable paints and coatings additives at a yet to be determined site in Southeast Asia. The move will expand the company’s Bermocoll business, which supplies ethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (EHEC) and other essential ingredients to multinational and regional customers.
DSM Boosts Food & Beverage Enzymes with First Choice Buy
DSM has agreed to acquire First Choice Ingredients, a US manufacturer of fermented dairy and savory flavorings for taste and functional activities in a variety of food and beverage applications. The transaction – at an enterprise value of $453 million – is expected to close in the final quarter of 2021.
Expert Statement: Ferdinand Biermann, Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT
ISPE and its members are developing the roadmap to introduce Industry 4.0, also called the Smart Factory, at the pharmaceutical industry as Pharma 4.0 – an operating model that is interconnected, meaning that the digital tools allow for a fully connected network to enable direct communication between all levels in an organization.
Expert Statement: Andreas Bonhoff, TTP Group
ISPE and its members are developing the roadmap to introduce Industry 4.0, also called the Smart Factory, at the pharmaceutical industry as Pharma 4.0 – an operating model that is interconnected, meaning that the digital tools allow for a fully connected network to enable direct communication between all levels in an organization.
Expert Statement: Rino Woyczyk, Drees & Sommer
ISPE and its members are developing the roadmap to introduce Industry 4.0, also called the Smart Factory, at the pharmaceutical industry as Pharma 4.0 – an operating model that is interconnected, meaning that the digital tools allow for a fully connected network to enable direct communication between all levels in an organization.
Expert Statement: Balajikasiram Sundararajan, ACG
ISPE and its members are developing the roadmap to introduce Industry 4.0, also called the Smart Factory, at the pharmaceutical industry as Pharma 4.0 – an operating model that is interconnected, meaning that the digital tools allow for a fully connected network to enable direct communication between all levels in an organization.
Expert Statement: Teresa Minero, LifeBee
ISPE and its members are developing the roadmap to introduce Industry 4.0, also called the Smart Factory, at the pharmaceutical industry as Pharma 4.0 – an operating model that is interconnected, meaning that the digital tools allow for a fully connected network to enable direct communication between all levels in an organization.
Expert Statement: Michelangelo Canzoneri, Merck
ISPE and its members are developing the roadmap to introduce Industry 4.0, also called the Smart Factory, at the pharmaceutical industry as Pharma 4.0 – an operating model that is interconnected, meaning that the digital tools allow for a fully connected network to enable direct communication between all levels in an organization.
Expert Statement: Markus Zeitz, Novartis
ISPE and its members are developing the roadmap to introduce Industry 4.0, also called the Smart Factory, at the pharmaceutical industry as Pharma 4.0 – an operating model that is interconnected, meaning that the digital tools allow for a fully connected network to enable direct communication between all levels in an organization.
Expert Statement: Viola Meisterling, Boehringer Ingelheim
ISPE and its members are developing the roadmap to introduce Industry 4.0, also called the Smart Factory, at the pharmaceutical industry as Pharma 4.0 – an operating model that is interconnected, meaning that the digital tools allow for a fully connected network to enable direct communication between all levels in an organization.
The Transition to Digitalization in the Pharmaceutical Industry
ISPE and its members are developing the roadmap to introduce Industry 4.0, also called the Smart Factory, at the pharmaceutical industry as Pharma 4.0 – an operating model that is interconnected, meaning that the digital tools allow for a fully connected network to enable direct communication between all levels in an organization.
SK Global Chemical Rebrands for Green Transformation
Korea’s SK Global Chemical has changed its name to SK Geo Centric with effect from Sep. 1 as it adopts a strategy centered on recycling and eco-friendly materials. “The plastic waste problem could turn into an opportunity. We will grow into the world’s largest urban oilfield company that converts plastic waste back into oil,” said SK Geo Centric CEO Na Kyung-soo.
Two FDA Vaccine Experts Quit over Covid Boosters
Two key vaccine officials of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plan to quit the agency over the next three months in protest against President Joe Biden’s plan to offer Covid-19 booster shots to all Americans starting this month, even if they only received their second shot five months earlier.
Basel-based CDMO Start-up Focuses on Injectables
A new CDMO known as Ten23 Health has been launched in Basel, Switzerland. The company that takes its name from Avogadro’s number, a proportion that relates molar mass on an atomic scale to physical mass on a human scale, was founded by Hanns-Christian Mahler, a former employee of several well-known industry players, and is financed by private equity investor 3i Group. It plans to be globally active, supporting biotech startups and established pharmaceutical customers in the development of injectables.
LyondellBasell’s Bob Patel to Lead W. R. Grace
Bhavesh (Bob) Patel, who announced on Aug. 25 his resignation as CEO of US polyolefins giant LyondellBasell, will lead W. R. Grace with effect from January 2022. The appointment was confirmed by Standard Industries Holdings, which expects to close its acquisition of W.R. Grace in the final quarter of 2021. The US chemical producer will subsequently be de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange and become a privately held standalone company within Standard.
