This year’s InformEx/CPhI North America event was buzzing, with thousands of attendees and over 25 high-profile speakers in a conference programme focused on the latest drug development innovations and manufacturing technologies.

The future of medicines and advances made so far were hot topics at this year’s event, held in Philadelphia on the 24-26 April.

Paints, coatings and speciality chemicals multinational AkzoNobel has announced the sale of its entire speciality chemicals business to The Carlyle Group and Singaporean investment fund GIC for €10.1 billion (US$12.3 billion). The sale is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

In a press release, the company said a private sale would be in the best interests of AkzoNobel and its stakeholders. The Carlyle Group has a global presence and the financial capacity to enable the speciality chemicals business to achieve its full potential.