Connected Work
We are in an increasingly volatile global climate, from health and economic crises, to trade wars on multiple fronts, to political unease, to name just a few.
News
Excited About Coatings
Affix Labs over the past 5 years has specialized in binding technologies and commercialized first products in 2019.
Expanding Into Oligonucleotides
The global market for oligonucleotide therapeutics is expanding rapidly. Bachem, an innovation-driven company based in Bubendorf, Switzerland, has entered this competitive environment in 2019.
High Quality and Flexibility for Pharmaceutical Customers
WeylChem’s Custom Manufacturing division has a strong record of accomplishments operating in markets such as Pharma, Agro and Pigments.
Proactively Shaping the Transformation Path
The goal of a CO2-neutral chemical industry in 2050 is comparable with a 30 year marathon – but at sprint speed. So we have to find the best route to this common goal. This is the conclusion of a conference organized by the Association for Chemistry and Economics (VCW), a sub-sector of the German Chemical Society (GDCh).
Univar to Buy China Silicone Distributor
Univar Solutions China, a wholly owned subsidiary of US chemical distributor Univar Solutions, has agreed to acquire Zhuhai Techi Chem Silicone Industry Corp. for an undisclosed sum. The deal is expected to close in mid-December.
Sterling Pharma Partners ADC Biotechnology
CDMO Sterling Pharma Solutions has formed a strategic partnership with ADC Biotechnology, a UK-based specialist in the discovery, development and manufacture of antibody drug conjugates.
UK Defends Covid Vaccine EUA Against Criticism
On Dec. 2, the UK was jubilant about being the first country to issue an Emergency Use Application (EUA) for the Western world’s first coronavirus vaccine, developed by the American-German team of Pfizer and BioNTech. A day later the country was being looked upon as somewhat of a pariah by authorities in the US and EU that saw the move as overly hasty.
PPG to Take Ennis-Flint for $1.15 Billion
US paints group PPG Industries has agreed to buy Ennis-Flint, a manufacturer of specialized coatings for traffic safety solutions, for about $1.15 billion from private equity owner Olympus Partners. The deal is expected to close within the next few months, subject to the usual conditions.
ADNOC and Total Ink CO2/Carbon Capture Pact
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and French energy group Total have entered into a strategic framework agreement to explore joint research, development and deployment opportunities in reducing CO2 emissions and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).
Perstorp Develops Sustainable Methanol Route
Sweden‘s Perstorp has developed a new route to produce renewable methanol from carbon waste streams and is in search of funding to try out the new production concept in a plant at Stenungsund. If Project AIR goes ahead, the company said it would be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 500,000 t/y, making progress toward becoming carbon neutral.
Black & Veatch and Golar LNG Link on Floating Ammonia
US engineering group Black & Veatch and Bermuda-based gas shipper Golar LNG are expanding their long-standing collaboration to focus on floating ammonia production, carbon capture, green liquefied natural gas (LNG) and green hydrogen.
Sasol Completes Lake Charles Asset Sale
South African chemical producer Sasol has completed the sale of a 50% stake in its US base chemicals business at Lake Charles, Louisiana, to LyondellBasell following shareholder approval. The Johannesburg group’s shares initially rose 3% on the news.
UK Grants EUA to Pfizer/ BioNTech Covid Vaccine
In a move that was not on the world’s radar, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has become the first Western regulatory body to issue an Emergency Use Authorization EUA) for a Covid-19 vaccine, Pfizer-BioNTech’s BNT162b2 candidate.
Trade, Innovation and Investment
US chemistry remains in demand around the world despite ongoing trade tensions and Covid-19. In 2019, the US chemical industry was one of the world’s largest exporters, at $136 billion. The industry has a large and growing trade surplus, reaching more than $35 billion in 2019.
Chemical Industry on the Edge of a Disruptive Digital Revolution
While the focus of digitization in Europe and North America is on process efficiency and costs, the focus in Asia-Pacific is on market and customer access.
DSM and Neste Link on Renewable Feedstocks
DSM has entered into a strategic partnership with Neste that will allow the Dutch health, nutrition and materials company to cut its carbon footprint and support the industry’s transition to a circular economy.
WeylChem Plans new Chlorination Unit in Frankfurt
The WeylChem Group of Companies (WCGC) is planning to build a new production facility for aromatic ring chlorination at its site in Frankfurt, Germany’s Höchst chemical park. Start-up is expected in the first quarter of 2022.
Moderna Files with FDA for Vaccine EUA
On Nov. 30, US biotech Moderna became the second Covid-19 vaccine maker to apply to the Food and Drug Administration to grant an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for its coronavirus vaccine. The filing follows that of the Pfizer-BioNTech team on Nov. 20.
Foreign Investment in China`s Chemical Industry
Investment in the areas listed in the catalogue is supported by a variety of incentives.
Elementis Rejects Second Minerals Bid
It took just two hours for the board of UK specialty chemical company Elementis to reject a second takeover bid from Minerals Technologies.
Braskem and Topsoe Start Bio-MEG Demo Unit
Brazilian petrochemical giant Braskem and Danish catalysis and technology company Haldor Topsoe have announced they have achieved their first-ever production of bio-based MEG at demonstration scale.
Clariant to Restructure and Cut Jobs
After downsizing operations through divestments over the past year, Swiss specialty chemicals producer Clariant now plans to restructure its corporate organization to reflect the present leaner status and shift the emphasis of its portfolio to higher value-added products.
Solvay Sells Barium, Strontium Business to Latour
Solvay has agreed to sell its technical-grade barium and strontium business in Germany, Spain and Mexico, as well as its sodium percarbonate business In Germany to French private equity group Latour Capital. Financial terms of the deal, which is set to complete in the first quarter of 2021, were not disclosed.
Lilly to Enter Gene Therapy with Precision BioSciences
Eli Lilly is wading into gene therapy, inking a deal with Precision BioSciences to develop in vivo gene therapies for three gene targets. The first target will be Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a disease caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene that prevent it from producing a protein of the same name. The other two have not been revealed.
Sinovac Publishes Positive Data on its Covid Vaccine
Chinese biotech Sinovac has published data from the Phase 1/2 trial with its Covid-19 vaccine candidate in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases. The results are said to show that the candidate is capable of inducing a quick antibody response within four weeks of immunization if given in two doses at a 14-day interval.
Arkema Starts Up Extra China Kynar Capacity
Arkema plans to start up its 50% expansion of Kynar fluoropolymer capacity at Changshu, China, next month. First commercial volumes will be supplied starting January 2021, the French specialty chemicals group said.
Upjohn/Mylan Merger Closes to Form Viatris
Pfizer has completed the spin-off of its Upjohn Business and combined it with Mylan to form Viatris, which began trading on Nov. 17. On closure of the deal, Pfizer stockholders owned about 57% of the outstanding shares of Viatris common stock and Mylan shareholders owned roughly 43%.
Wacker CDMO Arm to Produce CureVac Vaccine
Germany’s Wacker Chemie has signed a contract to manufacture the active substance for compatriot CureVac’s Covid-19 vaccine candidate CVnCoV. Under the terms, the biotech arm of the Munich-based chemical group will ramp up GMP production of the mRNA drug substance for the candidate at its Amsterdam site in the first half of 2021.
Flexibility and Safety in the Chemical Industry
Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) are genuine transport and storage all-rounders with a variety of different uses in many different industries.
Merck Innovation Cup 2021
The Innovation Cup is an initiative for post-graduate students and young professionals in natural sciences, computer sciences, and business administration to attend a training program near Frankfurt, Germany.
Court Cuts J&J Damages Payout to $120 Million
A New York state Supreme Court hearing Johnson & Johnson’s appeal of a 2019 baby powder judgment has agreed to reduce a $325 million jury award by two-thirds to $120 million. It declined to throw out the entire claim case, however, saying there was evidence to suggest the company’s talc-based powder caused the plaintiff’s mesothelioma as charged.
Ineos Buys Out Sasol in Gemini JV
Ineos Olefins and Polymers USA has agreed terms to buy Sasol’s 50% stake in their Gemini joint venture for $404 million, taking full ownership. The deal is scheduled to close by year end, contingent on financing.
AstraZeneca Covid Vaccine Shows 70% Efficacy
AstraZeneca’s viral vector vaccine candidate for Covid-19, AZD1222, moved back into the spotlight again this week after giving up headlines recently to the mRNA candidates of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.
Shell and Nexus in Pyrolysis-from-Waste Supply Deal
Shell and plastics recycling company Nexus Fuels have entered into a supply agreement for pyrolysis liquid made from plastic waste.
