Connecticut-based CDMO TriRx Pharmaceutical Services has finalized and closed on an agreement to buy Elanco Animal Health’s site in Speke, near Liverpool, UK. The two companies had agreed a two-facility sale and long-term supply agreement in 2021, covering this site and another in Shawnee, Kansas, which it took over last August.

Novasep has signed a letter of intent to supply the API for Pfizer’s Paxlovid, an oral protease inhibitor against COVID-19 that has shown a positive impact in clinical trials on hospitalisation among at-risk patients Technical transfer, on-site development and equipment installation activities have begun already at the Mourenx facility in France, which is expected to be incorporated into the supply chain by Q3.

Indian speciality chemicals and custom synthesis firm Anupam Rasayan has acquired 24.96% of Tanfac Industries from Birla Group Holdings and others for €17.3 million. It is also launching an open €18 million offer to acquire a further 26%, potentially giving it a majority stake, alongside Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation.

Aceto has consolidated and integrated its six manufacturing-related acquisitions of recent years to achieve what it called “a hybrid manufacturing/distribution model providing key benefits to its customers in high-growth end markets”. These include (bio)pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nutraceuticals, agriculture, cosmetics and speciality chemicals. The six are:

* A&C, a global GMP manufacturer of speciality excipients, buffers, process solutions and raw materials for biopharmaceuticals

Following on from earlier acquisitions and investments on both sides of the Atlantic, Sterling Pharma Solutions has commenced a $2.1 million expansion project to increase chemical and analytical capabilities at its facility in Cary, North Carolina. The work should be completed by the end of 2022 and will create up to 20 new jobs. This will include five new laboratories: two for R&D, one for scaling up chemical synthesis and others for QC and analytical services.

Catalent has completed a $10 million expansion in large-scale isolator units at its sites in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and Dartford, UK. These provide advanced containment capabilities for the micronisation of highly potent drug compounds.

According to the German business newspaper Handelsblatt, the International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG) intends to sell CordenPharma. A valuation of around €3 billion has been cited. ICIG has, the paper said, has already had meetings with potential buyers and will send out information packs to them by the end January. Neither ICIG nor CordenPharma has made any comment.