Roger-Marc Nicoud, CEO of Ypso-Facto, looks at the challenges and opportunities for CDMOs in the current crisis*
The current crisis has highlighted the dependence of European and, indeed, North American countries on delocalised production. This is the case for many goods, including APIs and drugs in general.
Evonik, which is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical CDMOs, has announced the €25 million first stage of a long-term programme to expand API and advanced intermediates capacity at its sites in Dossenheim and Hanau, Germany. This should be completed by mid-2021 and the whole project should be finalised prior to 2024.
BASF management and representatives of the 34,000 employees at the Ludwigshafen verbund site in Germany have signed a new site agreement. This will run from 1 June to the end of 2025, replacing one that was due to expire at the end of 2020.
The US subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical (MCC) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Gelest from private equity firm New Mountain Capital, which had owned the firm since 2017. The deal should be completed within 2020, subject to regulatory review and approval. Terms were not disclosed.
Brooke DiDomenico describes how Nation Ford Chemical addressed safety issues during a period of rapid growth
Founded in 1978, Nation Ford Chemical (NFC) is a custom and toll manufacturer of speciality organic chemicals. The company specialises in organic intermediates, polymers and colorants for a broad range of applications. Chemical production is based at the 28-acre (11-hectare) site at Fort Mill, South Carolina, and the products are sold worldwide.
Aceto, which describes itself as a “virtual manufacturer of speciality materials” for life science, nutrition, agricultural and advanced technology applications, has acquired Syntor Fine Chemicals. Terms were not disclosed. Trumont International was the sell-side adviser to Syntor.
Seqens plans to add a second production plant for isopropanol at the Roussillon chemical platform in southern France (pictured). This will have capacity of 50,000 tonnes/year, increasing the company’s total by 70%, and is due to start up in 2021. It will enjoy an optimised production and competitive access to raw materials and energy on site, the company said.
