NEWS
IN BRIEF
High-purity H 2
SO 4 plant BASF has revealed plans to invest“ a high double-digit million-euro” sum to expand capacity for semiconductor-grade sulfuric acid, an essential ultra-pure chemical, at its main Ludwigshafen site in Germany. Operations are expected to start by 2027. Several new chip plants are being constructed or expanded in Europe, boosting demand for high-purity semiconductor-grade chemicals.
Syensqo-Sinopec deal Syensqo and Sinopec have signed a strategic partnership framework Agreement to“ foster collaboration in advanced materials and speciality chemicals”. Areas of focus include carbon fibre and composites, speciality polymers and materials for aerospace, transportation and energy. They will also look into supply chain management and sustainability initiatives, and explore cooperation in emerging markets like South America and Asia.
Senn deal closes Granules India has closed the acquisition it announced in February of Swiss CDMO Senn Chemicals. Based in Dierdorf, Senn is active in liquid- and solidphase peptide synthesis in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, amino acid derivatives and theragnostic markets. The acquisition notably enables Granules to enter the GLP-1 and other peptide-based API space, where the two have already begun joint development activities.
Helsinn acquires Cerbios-Pharma
HAS Healthcare Advanced Synthesis has acquired Cerbios- Pharma, subject to regulatory approval. As a result, investment frm 65 Equity Partners, which owns Helsinn, will acquire about 40 % of Cerbios. The Braglia family will retain a majority stake and the existing management will stay in place.
Both companies are based in the Swiss canton of Ticino, headquartered at Biasca and Lugano respectively, and are actively globally. Cerbios has another site at Couvet. They have a combined workforce of over 400.
“ The combination … creates a highly complementary and integrated leader in the CDMO industry” it was stated.“ Together, the two companies bring extensive production, chemical and biological expertise, technical excellence and a broader range of services to meet the evolving needs of the global pharmaceutical industry.”
Opportunities are seen in rising demand for complex therapies and continued innovation in drug development across oncology, neurology, endocrinology, dermatology, rare diseases, gastrointestinal and other therapeutic areas.
Helsinn is active in APIs, HPAPIs and anti-cancer compounds, at hundreds of grams to tens of kilos scale. Cerbios, meanwhile, makes both chemical and biological APIs, including HPAPIs and is also strong in antibody-drug conjugates( ADCs).
In February, Cerbios opened a new expansion area at Lugano for HPAPIs, including cytotoxic linker payloads for ADCs. It is equipped with isolator containment technology for highly potent molecules down to an OEL < 10 ng / m 3, expanding capacity for advanced purification technologies like high- and low-pressure chromatography, nanofiltration and freeze-drying.
6 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981