Canary Wharf Group and Kadans Science Partner have submitted a detailed planning application for a 23-storey, 76,500 m2 tower. They said that this would be Europe’s largest and most technologically advanced life sciences facility, as well as a first of its kind vertical campus.

The site is on an undeveloped 3.5-hectare site at the North Quay on Canary Wharf in the Docklands area of London. It will be able to deliver 325,000 m² of laboratory and affiliated space, with the ability to provide chemistry and high containment facilities. Other features will include:

Albemarle has acquired a location in Charlotte, North Carolina, where it will invest at least $180 million to establish the Albemarle Technology Park (ATP), aided by a $13 million incentive package from the state of North Carolina. The company expects to move in by early 2025 and complete of the campus by late 2026.

Bachem has signed a further work order with an unnamed customer for large volumes of peptides for a minimum total of CHF 1 billion from 2025 to 2029. This follows two previous large-volume contracts announced in September worth CHF 175 million in 2023-4. No further details will be disclosed.

Clariant is to invest CHF 80 million to expand its Care Chemicals facility at Daya Bay in Huizhou, China, by the end of 2024. This will both add capacity for existing products and introduce new products in the pharmaceutical, personal care, home care and industrial sector.

Daya Bay, which has obtained the drug GMP certificate, is the first API site in China certified to produce polyethylene glycol Polyglykol 3350. More generally, it will become new global hub for Clariant’s healthcare business support.

Brenntag has opened a new 90,000 m² facility in Zarate, Argentina, and simultaneously presented the renovation and expansion of its facilities in Nova Esperança in Brazil.

The Zarate site includes 500 m2 of offices, 2,000 m² of warehouses, approximately 1,250 m² of tank capacity, three tank truck unloading spaces, two drumming stations, a mix and blending building, and sustainable energy sources to operate the site. It will support both of Brenntag’s Specialties and Essentials businesses.

Dr Dexter Morse, global head of insurance and risk at Arxada, looks at how companies can protect themselves from the effects of negligent or malicious employees

Midas Pharma is diversifying into new areas based on its longstanding non-GMP capabilities. We spoke with senior director Dr Peter Markus

Midas Pharma of Ingelheim, Germany, is mainly known as a family-owned, full-chain supplier of products and services to the pharmaceutical market. The company continues to grow in this area, with sales close to €500 million/year and over 250 employees. However, it is also looking to other fields.