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.

Vicky Xia and Joel Ranck of BioPlan share some first insights from the CPHI Annual Report

Having already benefitted from a COVID-based boom in the last two years, outsourcing of biologics globally is set to continue growing significantly in 2023. No production cliff is expected, even as COVID-related contracts reduce in scale, but the rapid growth of China’s biologics sector will slow.

Cambrex has announced it is investing in a new facility in Minneapolis. It will operate as an extension of the flagship facility in Charles City, Iowa (pictured), which is simultaneously seeing further expansion.

The new site, near Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport, will specialise in analytical and chemical development for small molecule drug candidates and will cover 1,950 m² R&D. This will double Cambrex’s analytical and chemical development footprint in the Midwest, according to CEO Thomas Loewald, while creating 46 jobs.

International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG), the owner of WeylChem and various other chemical operations, has agreed to acquire Inprotec from Paragon Partners and its minority co-shareholders. The transaction is expected to close in November, subject to customary antitrust clearance.

Battery materials maker Vianode has opened the Vianode Technology Centre (VTC) at Kristiansand, in Norway, where it had opened an industrial pilot plant in 2021. This came barely a month after the company announced an investment of €194 million in a battery materials plant at Herøya.

Aided by $4 million in state grant funds, Solenis is to move its R&D operations to Building 713 at Chestnut Run Innovation & Science Park (CRISP, pictured) in its home state of Delaware. This $40 million expansion comes “in response to increasing market demand for its sustainability-focused products and expertise and with an eye toward long-term growth”, the company said.