Ergomed Takes US CRO MedSource
UK pharma services provider Ergomed is acquiring US contract research organization (CRO) MS Clinical Services, known as MedSource.
News
UK Regulator Investigates Tronox TiZir Buy
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) intends to open a Phase 2 investigation into Tronox’s proposed purchase of the TiZir titanium and iron business from French multinational mining and metallurgy group Eramet.
Ascend Buys Eurostar Engineering Plastics
US nylon giant Ascend Performance Materials, which claims to be the world’s biggest fully integrated producer of polyamide 66 resin, has acquired Eurostar Engineering Plastics for an undisclosed sum. The French compounder manufactures a broad portfolio of flame-retardant engineered plastics and boasts expertise in halogen-free formulations.
Kemira and DuPont Link on Biomaterials
Kemira and DuPont Nutrition and Biosciences have joined forces to develop and commercialize new, tailored biomaterials and bio-based chemicals based on DuPont’s biotechnology platform, which is at the advanced pilot stage and ready to be scaled up globally.
Trump EPA’s Dicamba Extension Provokes Lawsuits
As the end of Donald Trump’s term as US president nears, environmental groups and even some career staffers within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are scrambling to thwart last-minute efforts by the outgoing administration to cast in stone its rollback of Obama-era antipollution and safety legislation.
WuXi Bio to Buy Bayer Wuppertal Plant
Through a subsidiary, Shanghai, China-based WuXi Biologics (WuXi Bio) is acquiring Bayer’s biologics substance plant at Wuppertal, Germany, for €150 million ($183.3 million).The transaction, expected to close in the first half of 2021, follows earlier Wuxi Bio purchases of plants the pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals group is shedding in Germany and the US.
Adrenomed Appoints Wolfgang Baiker as CEO
German biopharmaceutical company Adrenomed has appointed Wolfgang Baiker as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective Jan. 1, 2021.
OQ Chemicals Invests in Oberhausen Site
German oxo chemicals producer OQ Chemicals has announced plans to invest a “double-digit million euro” sum until the end of 2023 at its Oberhausen site as part of an efficiency drive.
Novozymes Buys Microbiome Labs
Novozymes is to buy US-based Microbiome Labs, strengthening the Danish biotech’s presence in probiotics and gaining entry into the important North American market. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of January 2021.
Covid Vaccines Dominate Dialog over Holiday Break
Unsurprisingly in view of the surging cases of Covid-19 worldwide, there was little interruption in the flow of vaccine news – or at least talk about vaccines– during the Christmas and New Year break.
Servier Strengthens Oncology with Agios Acquisition
In another move to bolster its oncology portfolio, French pharma Servier has agreed to buy Agios Pharmaceuticals’ business, including its commercial, clinical and research-stage portfolio, for up to $2 billion. The transaction includes an upfront payment of $1.8 billion plus a potential $200 million in regulatory milestones and royalties.
Brenntag Buys Canada’s Alpha Chemical
German-headquartered multinational chemical distributor Brenntag has agreed to buy Canada’s Alpha Chemical for an undisclosed sum.
BASF Completes Phase 1 of Geismar MDI Expansion
BASF has completed the first phase of an MDI expansion at its Geismar, Louisiana, complex in the US and taken an older MDI plant off stream. When the next phase is concluded, in the second half of 2021, the group’s MDI capacity by will rise by about a third.
Avantium Get €5.4 Million to Expand FDCA Pilot Plant
Dutch renewables specialist Avantium has received a €5.4 million grant from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency to support expansion of the company’s furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) pilot plant at Geleen, the Netherlands.
Lilly Boosts Gene Therapy with Prevail Buy
Eli Lilly is to buy Prevail Therapeutics, a US biotech focused on developing adeno-associated viral vector 9 (AAV9) gene therapies to treat neurodegenerative diseases, in a deal that could be worth as much as $1.04 billion.
BioNTech and Fosun in China Covid Deal
Germany-based BioNTech and its Chinese partner Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical have agreed to provide an initial 100 million doses of the Mainz-headquartered company’s mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine candidate to the People’s Republic of China in 2021, subject to regulatory approval. Initial supply will be from BioNTech’s production facilities in Germany.
EMA Approves Pfizer-BioNTech Covid Vaccine
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Dec. 21 provisionally cleared EU-wide use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, which will be marketed under the brand name Comirnaty. The Conditional Marketing Authorization paves the way for a rollout across the 27 member states, which is slated to begin by the end of the month and is expected to be a major logistics challenge.
Azelis Boosts Australia Footprint
Azelis has entered into an agreement to buy CW Pacific in Australia, including Elle Bee Exports, CW Pacific Specialties and EB1. Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close within the next two months, were not disclosed.
Agilyx and Braskem Study Waste-to-PP Route
US chemical recycling technology specialist Agilyx and Brazilian polyolefins producer Braskem have started a feasibility study to explore the development and construction of a plastics recycling project in North America.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Invests in Germany and US
To support worldwide development of Covid-19 drugs and vaccines, CDMO Thermo Fisher Scientific is investing in new facilities for its cell and gene therapy portfolio in both the US and Europe.
PPG Takes Tikkurila for €1.1 Billion
PPG has entered into an agreement to buy Finnish paints company Tikkurila. The US paints and coatings group has offered €25 per share, equal to a transaction value of about €1.1 billion. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021, subject to the usual conditions.
FDA Issues EUA for Moderna’s Covid Vaccine
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for US biotech Moderna’s mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine on Dec.18, a day after the agency’s advisory panel voted 20-0 to recommend it.
Recipharm Expands Israel Capacity
Swedish CDMO Recipharm is investing in a capacity expansion at its facility located south of Tel Aviv in Israel, in order to support growing demand for cGMP clinical supply of APIs and intermediates.
Evonik to Acquire Durect’s Lactel Polymers
Evonik has entered into an agreement to buy the Lactel absorbable polymer business from Durect Corp., a US-based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing drugs for pain and chronic diseases.
Merck Broadens US Life Science Footprint
German pharmaceuticals, chemicals and life sciences group Merck is broadening its manufacturing footprint in the US, splitting a planned €40 million capital investment between its production facilities in Danvers, Massachusetts, and Jaffrey, New Hampshire.
Lummus Wins Indonesia, China Contracts
Lummus Technology and its joint venture partner Chevon Lummus Global (CLG) have won multiple technology contracts from Pertamina Rosneft Pengolahan dan Petrokimia (PRPP), a joint venture between Indonesia’s Pertamina and Russia’s Rosneft Oil, for a grassroots refinery and petrochemical complex in Tuban, Indonesia.
Fareva in Fill & Finish Deal for CureVac Vaccine
French family-owned CDMO Fareva has signed on to handle fill and finish manufacturing for German biotech CureVac’s mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine candidate, CVnCoV, at the CDMO’s’ sites at Val-de-Reuil and Pau, both in France.
Ex-BP Gilvary to Head new Ineos Energy
Confirming speculation earlier in the week, Ineos has announced the appointment of former BP chief financial officer, Brian Gilvary to head a new energy company called Ineos Energy.
European Circular Bioeconomy Fund Closes Second Financing Round
ECBF has announced a second closing of the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF). Reaching €175 million, ECBF has more than doubled its fund-size within two months after starting its operations.
Kemira and Danimer Develop Biodegradable Coating
Finnish chemicals company Kemira has formed an exclusive partnership with US-based Danimer Scientific to develop biodegradable aqueous barrier coatings for the paper and board industry.
Linde and Snam Link on Clean Hydrogen
Industrial gases group Linde has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Italian energy infrastructure company Snam to jointly develop clean hydrogen projects in Europe.
EMA to Wrap up Pfizer-BioNTech Review on Dec. 21
Facing scrutiny from the manufacturers, health ministers of some member states and the public, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has moved the timetable to conclude data analysis of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine candidate BNT162b2 forward by a week.
Danish Group Build World’s First Green Ammonia plant
A Danish group, comprising catalyst and technology company Haldor Topsoe, sustainable energy company Vestas and renewable energy developer Skovgaard Invest, plans to build a green ammonia plant in Western Jutland.
Arkema to Sell PMMA Business to Trinseo
France’s Arkema has announced plans to sell its PMMA engineering plastic arm to Trinseo of the US for an enterprise value of €1,137 million, slightly more than nine times the business’s estimated 2020 EBITDA.
CureVac Starts Late Stage Covid Vaccine Trial
German biotech CureVac has started a Phase 2b/3 clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate CVnCoV. Planned to enroll 36,500 participants in Europe and Latin America, the study is aimed at generating data to support approval of the company’s mRNA vaccine next year. A target date has not been disclosed.
