IN BRIEF
On your Wavelength
Israeli API firm Wavelength Pharmaceuticals has acquired a majority stake in Vanamali Organics , an India-based custom research and manufacturing services provider . Wavelength , which produces over 250 tonnes / year of APIs , including injectables , inhalables , HPAPIs , cytotoxics and controlled substances , said that this will strengthen its manufacturing footprint , global supply chain and CDMO business .
New Codexis space
Enzyme specialist Codexis will expanding its operations into a new 3,350 m 2 facility in San Carlos , California , under a ten-year lease . This facility will provide space for additional R & D laboratories and related office space as the company continues to grow . This should be open in Q4 , with space for 90 employees . The existing Redwood City facility will continue .
Fresh alliance
Speciality chemicals firm Elementis has reached a commercial agreement with ‘ supramolecular chemtech ’ maker Aqdot of Cambridge UK . Under this , its Elementis Personal Care business will exclusively sell Aqdot ’ s AqFresh odour capture and smart fragrance release technology for use in anti-perspirant and deodorant product formulations . Terms were not disclosed .
Merck buys out site
Merck KGaA plans to buy for $ 18 million the 28,000 m 2 facility within the Arizona State University Research Park at Tempe , which it has for ten years leased from Lexington Tempe . This is being done to strengthen the site as a manufacturing centre for semiconductor materials , the firm said . It has already spent $ 10 million to enhance the site , which employs 180 .
Clariant sets SBTIbased climate targets
Clariant has committed to new 2030 targets to reduce CO 2 emissions in line with the Science-Based Targets initiative ( SBTI ), which has validated them . This follows the establishment last year a dedicated unit to accelerate the company ' s sustainability transformation . The targets are :
• 40 % absolute reductions in Scope 1 ( made directly during production ) and 2 ( emitted indirectly , mainly through consuming steam and electricity ) greenhouse gas emissions ( GHG ) emissions on 2019 levels
• A 14 % absolute reductions in Scope 3 ( other indirect ) GHG emissions on 2019 levels There are further targets in the areas of water intake , wastewater , hazardous waste , non-hazardous waste to landfill and nitrogen oxide emissions . Clariant has also committed to implementing sustainable water management systems at all sites in areas of high water stress by 2030 and has adopted such aspects of governance as linking GHG reduction to remuneration and implementing internal carbon pricing . Clariant said that it is “ pursuing a mixed approach to reducing emissions across its value chain ”. It will focus on increasing energy efficiency through digitalisation in operations , increasing the use of green electricity and low carbon fuels , while increasingly using low-carbon raw materials , such as waste streams and sustainable biobased materials . Separately , Clariant has signed a cooperation agreement with ETH Zürich , one of the world ’ s most prestigious science and technology universities . It will make “ a significant financial contribution ” over an initial ten years to support research in catalysis and sustainable chemistry , with the goals of improving knowledge of catalysts ’ properties at all scales and sponsoring fundamental research .
Pharmaceutical CDMO Cascade Chemistry has broken ground for new cGMP API facilities near to its existing site in Eugene , Oregon . Due in operation in Q3 2022 , these will cost $ 14 million and will increase floor space almost three-fold while adding to its cGMP manufacturing capacity and scale , according to company president Dr Jeremiah Marsden .
A first , 2,600 m 2 building will initially include five suites for Phase I and II cGMP manufacture , with flow hydrogenation and reactors up to 400 litres , plus 200 m 2 of space for new analytical labs , a quality system and offices . Phase III and commercial-scale ( up to 1,000 litres ) will be added in 2022 . A second building , with 650 m 2 of floor space , is being reserved for future expansion .
12 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981