Aashi Mishra shares some highlights from a recent Research Nester study

Oleochemicals are chemicals that are obtained from fats and oils, both vegetable and animal. They find use across diverse industries and are gaining popularity owing to their eco-friendly and sustainable characteristics.

Oleochemicals have a range of qualities, including being biodegradable, low toxicity levels and being derived from renewable sources. Moreover, they can be customised to exhibit attributes like enhanced lubrication or increased solubility.

Private equity investor Advent International has completed the acquisition of 50.1% stake in Indian CDMO Suven Pharma for $5.95/share, as originally agreed in December 2022. This will shortly trigger an open offer for the remaining 26% not being retained by the founding Jasti family. The move follows approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in August.

Ahead of his session at CPHI Barcelona, Lawrence De Belder, continuous manufacturing practice head at Pharmatech Associates, answers some questions on the transformative impact of CM on the pharmaceutical industry

Why does batch processes have quality traps? Why will CM be the next generation on quality?

India’s Navin Fluorine International has officially launched its CDMO division under the name Navin Molecular. The company has been providing chemistry services since 2010 and is launching the band “to showcase the broad platform that Navin Molecular can offer” in terms of geographical diversity and expertise in a range of complex chemistries.

Lonza has extended two ongoing collaborations with unnamed major biopharmaceutical companies. One covers the commercial-scale filling of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), the other bioconjugation. Financial details were not disclosed in either case.

As part of the former partnership, Lonza will build a dedicated line at its site in Stein, Switzerland, for the aseptic filling of highly potent ADCs and lyophilisation under containment. The new line is expected to be operational in 2027 and to create about 115 new jobs at peak capacity.

CDMO Sterling Pharma Solutions has acquired UK-based NewChem Technologies, which offers contract services focused on complex organic process chemistry to the pharmaceuticals, chemicals, diagnostics, biotechnology and veterinary markets. Terms were not disclosed, but the deal includes all of NewChem’s assets and employees.

Cambrex has completed a $38 million expansion at its small molecule API facility in High Point, North Carolina. This doubles capacity, with new analytical and chemical development laboratories, two new clinical manufacturing suites and a small-scale commercial manufacturing operation with three work centres and 2,000 litre reactors. Work originally began in 2021. This has created about 70 jobs.