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Korean firm plans CDMO business

Hanmi Fine Chemical, an API manufacturing subsidiary of Hanmi Pharmaceutical, has announced plans for a new business offering what it calls ‘high-tech CDMO’ services. It will spend €7.4 million to build facilities for them and expects to form partnerships with more companies in 2H 2022, in addition to the ten it already has.

Sterling enters second investment phase

CDMO Sterling Pharma Solutions has announced what it called the next phase of a multi-year investment strategy at its site in Dudley, UK. It will spend £10 million by mid-2022 on new process development laboratories and commercial-scale manufacturing equipment to meet growth in demand for small molecule API manufacturing.

Oxygen shortage forces stop at Hikal

Indian fine chemical and API firm Hikal has halted production of an unnamed product from its Crop Protection division at Taloja, near Mumbai, due to the current non-availability of industrial oxygen.

The company said that it anticipates an impact on sales of the product in question. It has kept customers informed and will work with them to make up for the shortfall in delivery in the coming quarters. Production will be ramped back up when industrial oxygen is available again.

Lonza in two expansion deals

Lonza its to expand its two-year collaboration with Moderna to manufacture the drug substance for Moderna’ COVID-19 vaccine. This will lead to further expansion at its main site in Visp, Switzerland, as will another small molecule complex, which includes a dedicated line for antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for an unnamed customer.

COVID continues to cause postponements

Mack-Brooks Exhibitions has announced the postponement of the fine and speciality chemicals trade show, Chemspec Europe 2021 in view of continued uncertainties regarding travel restrictions and event planning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year’s show was twice postponed and finally replaced with a digital event.

Chemspec Europe 2021, the 35th in the series, was originally scheduled for 19-20 May at Messe Frankfurt. It will now be a hybrid physical-digital event on 29-30 September, merging the “on-site offer with interactive digital networking opportunities”.

Recipharm board backs takeover bid

The board of Swedish-based CDMO Recipharm has unanimously recommended that shareholders accept a revised offer for the firm from Roar BidCo, a vehicle set up by investment organisation EQT IX and backed by chairman Lars Backsell and CEO Thomas Eldered. The offer period ends on 12 February. Roar BidCo has said that it does not plan any changes to the management team or for employees.

Germany: Associations reject industry closure idea

The German Chemical Industry Association (VCI) and the German Chemical Employers' Association (BAVC) have joined forces to “vehemently reject” calls for a three-week shutdown for the chemical-pharmaceutical industry. This has been suggested as part of a nationwide ‘hard lockdown’ to fight the rapid growth in COVID-19 infection.

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