Kao has signed an agreement with its Japanese compatriot Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare, a specialist in over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, to collaborate in joint development in skin care, using each other's skin- and health-related fundamental and formulation technologies. Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare will use Kao's skin product formulation technology to develop OTC drugs.

The Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA), the voice of the chemical and petrochemical industry in the Arabian Gulf, has announced that Mohamed Al-Mady has won the 4th GPCA Legacy Award ‘Al-Rowad’ (Honour of a Lifetime).

Pharmaceutical CDMOs are continuing to invest in a buoyant market. We report from CPHI Frankfurt

The mood among CDMOs remained buoyant at the rebranded CPHI Frankfurt show, which took place on 1-3 November. There were several announcements of major investments and most of the exhibitors SCM spoke to were optimistic about continued rapid growth, particularly in new modalities of all kinds.

CEFIC has called on the European Commission and EU Member States to “immediately design and implement closely coordinated pan-European measures to limit the impact of energy prices vis-à-vis competing economies, increase energy supply and incentivise reductions in energy consumption”, both for the upcoming winter and beyond. “Skyrocketing gas and electricity prices vis-à-vis competing economies, the potential risk of gas supply shortages and mandates of electricity consumption reduction are putting hundreds of chemical plants at risk throughout Europe,” the association said.

At its latest capital markets day, distribution giant Brenntag announced ‘Strategy to Win’, its detailed strategic growth plan including new mid-term targets until 2026. It also unveiled a new brand identity. ‘Strategy to Win’ is the second phase of a planned “transformation journey”.

Global Healthcare Opportunities, a European specialist investor in global healthcare, and The Vistria Group, a middle-market private investment firm, have agreed to acquire US-based CDMO Alcami from Madison Dearborn Partners and Ampersand Capital Partners. They will each have 50% stakes.

Eastman has joined forces with Sphera, a long-time supplier, on the next generation of Sphera’s life cycle assessment (LCA) automation software. This was launched earlier in 2022 and seeks to enable businesses “to quickly receive holistic, real-time analysis and insights into the environmental footprint of their product portfolios and integrates seamlessly with their existing systems” and thus reduce their greenhouse gas emissions at every step of production.