DSM Establishes AI Biosciences Lab
DSM has established an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab for Biosciences in collaboration with Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands.
News
Linde Builds World’s Largest Electrolyzer in Germany
Industrial gases group Linde will build, own and operate what it said will be the world’s largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer plant at its chemical complex in Leuna, Germany.
US Recommits US to Paris and the WHO
After four years of Donald Trump rolling back Obama era environmental legislation, newly inaugurated US president Joe Biden on Jan. 20, his first day in office, rolled back a number of the Trump administration’s rollbacks.
Smarter Innovation Through Quality – A Pharma Virtual Conference
Croda Health Care will host a virtual conference on Tuesday 2 – Wednesday 3 February, created for the Pharmaceutical industry.
Thermo Fisher Adds Strength in Covid Diagnostics
In another move to boost its position in diagnostics for Covid-19 and other infectious diseases, Thermo Fisher Scientific has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held molecular diagnostic company Mesa Biotech for $450 million in cash. The business will become part of its Life Sciences Solutions segment.
MEPS call for Vaccine Contract Transparency
Members of the European Parliament (EP) at a Jan. 19 plenary debate on the EU’s strategy for Covid-19 vaccine procurement and deployment for the most part expressed support for the common approach to purchasing a common supply for the 27 member states. At the same time, they urged more solidarity in access to inoculation and transparency in contracts with pharmaceutical companies.
Lonza to Sell two Capsule Sites to NextPharma
Swiss CDMO Lonza said it intends to unload two of its capsule production sites, at Ploermel, France, and Edinburgh, Scotland, for an undisclosed sum to London-based CDMO NextPharma. The proposed deal is subject to regulatory approval. According to reports, most of the affected employees are expected to transfer to the new owner.
W. R. Grace Ready to Talk on Sale to 40 North
W. R. Grace said it is willing to discuss a sale to 40 North Management after the private investment group raised its offer for the specialty chemical and materials firm to $65 per share, representing a value of $4.3 billion. Last November, 40 North made a first and unsolicited offer of $60 per share – or $4 billion – that Grace swiftly rejected as undervaluing the company.
Angelini Acquires Arvelle Therapeutics
Italy’s Angelini Pharma has entered into an agreement to acquire Swiss biopharma Arvelle Therapeutics in an all-cash transaction worth up to $960 million. The first $610 million will be paid following regulatory clearance of the deal, with a further $350 million paid if Arvelle’s epilepsy treatment cenobamate achieves certain revenue targets.
AkzoNobel Makes Rival Bid for Tikkurila
Dutch paints and coatings specialist AkzoNobel has offered to buy Finland’s Tikkurila as it moves to top a bid by rival US firm PPG Industries.
Pfizer-BioNTech Revamp Delays Europe’s doses
US drugmaker Pfizer and partner BioNTech have confirmed they will temporarily reduce Covid deliveries to Europe as Pfizer revamps its designated plant in Belgium to lift production capacity to 2 billion doses per year, as announced earlier.
Total Quits American Petroleum Institute
Total has announced it is leaving the American Petroleum Institute (API) in disagreement over the industry grouping’s climate positions. The French energy and chemicals group said it was unable to resolve differences with API over carbon pricing, subsidies for electric vehicles and the regulation of methane emissions.
Celanese Plans China LCP Polymerization Plant
Major liquid crystal polymer (LCP) producer Celanese has announced plans to build a world-scale, multi-phase polymerization plant in China to support significant growth for its Vectra and Zenite brand of polymers.
Azelis Enters Philippines with APKI and PSSI Buys
Azelis has agreed to buy majority shareholdings in Asia Primera Kimika Inc. (APKI) and Phil-Asiatic Supply & Services Inc. (PSSI), entering the Philippine market and significantly strengthening its footprint in Southeast Asia.
President-elect Biden Names new Warp Speed Chief
US president-elect Joe Biden, who will be sworn in on Jan. 20, has picked former FDA commissioner David Kessler to replace Moncef Slaoui as head of Operation Warp Speed, (OWS), the initiative started under president Donald Trump to accelerate the speed of Covid-19 vaccine development.
Catalent Acquires Acorda Assets
US-based CDMO Catalent has agreed to buy the powder inhaler spray drying, capsule manufacturing and packaging operations of Acorda Therapeutics, a biotech specializing in developing therapies for neurological disorders. Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021, were not disclosed.
Nouryon Rebrands Industrial Chemicals as Nobian
Dutch chemical producer Nouryon has rebranded its wholly-owned industrial chemicals business as Nobian. The company said the change will allow the subsidiary to develop its integrated European value chain for essential base chemicals under its own name as Nouryon continues to focus on growing its leading position in global specialty chemicals.
Chinese Vaccines Provoke Discussion
Marching to the tune of the groundswell generated by Western Covid-19 vaccines approved, distributed and administered in the US, UK and the EU in recent weeks, Chinese vaccine manufacturers have been beating the drum for their candidates in countries in Latin America and the Middle East as well as at home.
TechnipFMC Resumes Separation Plans
TechnipFMC has restarted plans to split into two publicly traded companies: TechnipFMC and Technip Energies. The group put the separation plans on hold last March because of the coronavirus pandemic and turbulent financial markets.
Shell Invests in Canada Waste-to-Fuels Facility
Shell Canada has signed a deal to invest in Varennes Carbon Recycling, the first waste-to-low-carbon fuels plant in Quebec. Shell will take a 40% interest in the plant, which will use technology developed by Canadian clean tech company Enerkem.
Baxter to Supply Novavax Covid Vaccine in Germany
Baxter BioPharma Solutions has contracted to support production of US biotech Novavax’s new Covid-19 vaccine in Germany, when it is approved. Phase 3 data from late-stage trials is expected to be revealed soon.
Fujifilm Invests in Two US Facilities
Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, a subsidiary of Japan’s Fujifilm Corp., has announced plans to spend more than $2 billion to build a new large-scale cell culture production site in the US to accelerate the growth of its biopharma CDMO business.
BioNTech Plans Vaccine Scale-up to 2 Billion Doses
Germany’s BioNTech has scaled up its projections for the number of doses of its Covid-19 vaccine it will make this year from 1.3 billion to 2 billion, as it seeks approvals from regulatory agencies outside the US, UK and the EU, where its Comirnaty-branded product is already on the market.
Sanofi Buys UK Biotech Kymab
French pharma Sanofi is once again boosting its immunotherapy capabilities, this time with the acquisition of UK biotech Kymab. The company will make an upfront payment of about $1.1 billion plus up to $350 million upon Kymab achieving certain milestones.
Neste and Alterra in Chemical Recycling Collaboration
Finland’s Neste has taken a minority stake in Alterra Energy as the two collaborate to develop and license the US company’s chemical recycling technology. The size of the stake and financial terms were not disclosed.
Germany‘s Merck Acquires CDMO Amptec
German pharmaceuticals, chemicals and life sciences group Merck has acquired compatriot CDMO AmpTec for an undisclosed sum. The deal is designed to strengthen its life sciences’ arm’s capabilities to develop and manufacture mRNA products for applications in vaccines, treatments and diagnostics for Covid-19, among other diseases.
UK Approves Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MRHA) cleared US biotech Moderna’s mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use on Jan. 7, bringing the number of vaccines available in the country to three. At the same time, the British government ordered an additional 10 million doses, with a targeted supply of 17 million.
DuPont Starts Stock Swap for IFF Merger
DuPont has started a share exchange offer as part of a Reverse Morris Trust transaction that will see it merge its Nutrition & Biosciences (N&B) business into International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF). The offer allows DuPont shareholders to swap all or part of their common stockholding for N&B shares, which will convert into IFF shares.
Moderna Appoints Chief Commercial Officer
As it rolls out an increasing number of doses of its mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine, US biotech Moderna has appointed a pharma industry veteran to spearhead the effort. Corinne Le Goff will take up the position on Jan. 19.
Azelis Boosts Presence in Vietnam
In its first deal of 2021, Azelis has purchased a majority shareholding in Vietnamese companies MKVN Chemicals and Viet Chemicals Trading and Service through their parent company Bellekimia Singapore. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Solvay Sells Surfactants to OpenGate Capital
Solvay’s transformation to a specialties company has taken another step forward with an agreement to sell its European and North American amphoteric surfactant business to US private equity firm OpenGate Capital.
CureVac Takes Bayer on Board for CVnCoV
CureVac has agreed a collaboration with Bayer to speed up production and distribution of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate CVnCOV, which began clinical trials in December with a goal of 36,500 participants in Europe and Asia.
PPG Increases Tikkurila Offer
PPG Industries has increased its offer for Tikkurila to €1.24 billion, or €27.75 per share, following the receipt of a rival bid for the Finnish paints company by an unnamed party. The transaction is expected to close this quarter, subject to the usual conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Ineos Completes BP Aromatics and Acetyls Buy
Ineos completed its $5 billion acquisition of major petrochemicals assets from BP at the end of 2020, gaining 1,700 employees and adding two new subsidiaries, Ineos Aromatics and Ineos Acetyls.
EU Greenlights Moderna Covid Vaccine
Moderna’s mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine will become the second to be administered in Europe. The European Commission granted a conditional marketing authorization to the US biotech on Jan. 6, shortly after the candidate was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
