IN BRIEF
CABB invests in agro CABB will invest over € 50 million by 2025 to expand facilities and improve sustainability at its agrochemical site in Kokkola , Finland . Eight chemical reactors and a packaging plant were commissioned in September , largely as the result of a long-term supply contract with a new customer . Further ‘ double-digit millions ’ investments are currently being made or are in the pipeline .
Sterling deal completed Sterling Pharma Solutions has completed the acquisition of Novartis ’ API facility in Ringaskiddy , near Cork in Ireland . The deal includes ongoing supply of APIs for cardiovascular , immunology and oncology medicines to Novartis . The approximately 350 employees at Ringaskiddy have transferred , bringing the total to 1,300 across five facilities in Europe and the US .
Lonza starts up at Nansha
Lonza has started up the mid-scale manufacturing assets at its API facility in Nansha in China ’ s Guangdong province . The site is fully integrated within its global small molecules manufacturing network and this expansion has increased employee numbers there by 70 to around 330 .
Originally announced in June 2021 as part of a € 20 million investment , the expansion includes six 1,000L reactors , four 1,500L reactors and isolation equipment providing mid-scale capacity to bridge between early-phase and late-phase production . Lonza said that this enables it to “ provide customers with a smoother transition from small to large-scale manufacturing while maintaining global quality and regulatory standards ”.
The company has also formed a collaboration with Korean biotech AbTis in antibody-drug conjugates ( ADC ). This will connect itstoolbox for the development and manufacturing of bioconjugates with AbTis ’ AbClick bioconjugation platform .
AbClick relies on a novel , site-specific conjugation , which can be used to conjugate various payloads to native monoclonal antibodies ( mAbs ). A cyclic peptide binds to a specific site of the mAb , leading to precise conjugation and improved stability in the resulting ADCs . The linker creates an isopeptide bond with a nearby lysine , providing improved stability and cleavage resistance .
Catalyst partnership Heraeus Precious Metals and Sweden ’ s Hulteberg have formed a strategic partnership to jointly develop and commercialise a variety of catalysts for the operation of solid oxide fuel cells ( SOFCs ). The two firms will jointly approach clients and projects in both SOFCs and the wider hydrogen economy , and will commercialise new products tailored to their needs .
Ion exchange boost Chemours is to invest around $ 200 million in order to increase capacity and advance technology for its Nafion brand of ion exchange materials at the site in Villers-Saint-Paul , France . The investment is subject to obtaining the necessary permits and licences for construction and operations . It includes both ionomers and associated membranes .
Snapdragon finds buyer
CDMO Cambrex has agreed to buy Snapdragon Chemistry , a US-based provider of chemical process development services to the biopharma sector . Terms were not disclosed . This came two months after regulatory approval was denied to Asymchem Laboratories ’ acquisition of Snapdragon .
Based in Waltham , Massachusetts , and employing 74 , Snapdragon specialises in batch and continuous flow process development of APIs using advanced automation technology and proprietary equipment . It recently opened a second , 4,700 m 2 R & D and GMP manufacturing facility to make experimental pharmaceutical products for clinical trials . This also expanded its capacity for clinical intermediates and drug substances .
Cambrex CEO Tom Loewald said that buying Snapdragon
12 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981