Chemical Business Newsbase articles from June 2008

Chemical Business Newsbase archives from June 2008

Rentschler focuses on biotechnology.
June 30, 2008... Rentschler is to concentrate all of its biotechnology activities at Laupheim, Germany. The Laupheim site has recently completed a EUR 50 M programme for biotechnology development and production activities. Rentschler Biotechnologie has made...

Merck begins Erbitux Phase III clinical study in gastric cancer, applies to extend use of Erbitux for first-line head and neck cancer in Europe.
June 30, 2008... Merck KGaA has begun Phase III trials on a combination of Erbitux (cetuximab), Xeloda (capecitabine) and cisplatin for the treatment of advanced oesophageal-gastric cancer. The EXPAND project will assess the combination as a first line...

Alsace BioValley; life sciences building hosting research, scientific expertise and services.
June 30, 2008... Alsace BioValley is building a new life science facility. The venture aims to provide a wide range of services on a single site. It combines two complementary projects; the Center for Integrated Biology in Illkirch and the Platform Center...

Glaxo to double China research and development staff in next few years.
June 30, 2008... GlaxoSmithKline is to double its research and development workforce in China to 350 over a period of years.

Avecia adds formulation studies to its portfolio of services.
June 30, 2008... Avecia Biologics has set up a new Formulation Development function at its Tees Valley site in the UK. This will bring together biochemical, bioanalytical and biophysical techniques.

GlaxoSmithKline transfers paroxetine production to Romania.
June 30, 2008... GlaxoSmithKline is to transfer production of the antidepressant Paroxetine to Romania. The group acquired the Europharm plant in Brasov in 1998. The site will begin exporting the drug to more than 80 countries. The transfer of paroxetine is...

Ranbaxy set to launch India's first malaria drug.
June 30, 2008... Ranbaxy has completed Phase II trials of the first antimalarial to be developed in India. The drug is expected to reach the market within 3-5 years.

Agilent Technologies introduces CGH microarray for chicken genome.
June 30, 2008... Agilent Technologies Inc. has added a new microarray to its product range. The Oligonucleotide Array CGH (comparative genome hybridization) chicken microarray will be used to study chromosomal additions and deletions in chickens.

Boehringer Ingelheim gains access to additional Morphosys technology.
June 30, 2008... Boehringer Ingelheim has taken up an option to use MorphoSys' RapMAT technology for faster antibody optimization. This will be available in addition to the HuCAL Gold technology at Boehringer Ingelheim's site in Vienna, Austria. MorphoSys...

PennAkem acquires assets of Penn Specialty Chemicals.
June 30, 2008... PennAkem (100% Minakem subsidiary) has acquired the chemical assets of Penn Specialty Chemicals. This will make PennAkem a leading supplier of furfural and furan derivatives. The firm will be based in Memphis, TN with production facilities in...

Lonza and Bar Harbor Biotechnology sign exclusive sales agreement.
June 30, 2008... Lonza has signed an exclusive sales agreement to become Bar Harbor Biotechnology's worldwide distributor for its StellARay products. The StellARay range is used for gene expression analysis.

Quantum Genomics signs agreement with PCAS to make first batch of hypertension drug candidate.
June 30, 2008... Quantum Genomics has signed an agreement with PCAS Pharma Synthesis. PCAS will produce the first batch of Quantum Genome's lead compound QCC001. The compound is being developed as an antihypertensive. It uses a new biological mechanism.

SK Life Science selects Patheon as development services partner for several drug candidates.
June 30, 2008... SK Life Science Inc (formerly SK Bio-Pharmaceuticals) has been chosen by Patheon to provide drug development services for two additional CNS disease drug candidates. The US subsidiary of Korean firm SK Holdings has recently completed a Phase...

Senesco signs a supply agreement for Polyplus-Transfection's delivery system.
June 30, 2008... Senesco Technologies has entered into an agreement with the French firm Polyplus-Transfection. Polyplus will provide its in vivo-jetPEI drug delivery system for Senesco's siRNA against Factor5A and a plasmid of the Factor 5A gene. The...

Patheon reaches agreement with BSP Pharmaceuticals for cytotoxics.
June 30, 2008... Patheon has signed an agreement with the Italian firm BSP Pharmaceuticals. It will provide drug delivery services to BSP which specializes in cytotoxic pharmaceuticals.

Lanxess enters into long term cooperation agreement with the K+S Group.
June 30, 2008... Lanxess AG has signed a long term cooperation agreement with K+S Group. K+S subsidiary Fertiva has officially opened a new screening unit with Lanxess at Antwerp, Belgium. Fertiva has invested around EUR 5 M in the unit. Ammonium sulfate is a...

J&J PRD gets FDA approval for Concerta adult ADHD.
June 30, 2008... J&JPRD, part of Johnson & Johnson, has obtained approval from the US FDA for a supplemental new drug application for Concerta (methylphenidate HCl). This covers the use of extended release tablets as a treatment for ADHD in adults aged 18 to...

Akorn in manufacturing supply agreement with Bioniche.
June 30, 2008... Akorn has signed a 5-year manufacturing and supply agreement with Bioniche Pharma covering two undisclosed pharmaceuticals.

Church & Dwight purchases Orajel and other OTC brands.
June 30, 2008... Church & Dwight has completed the acquisition of the Del OTC pharmaceutical business of Coty Inc.

Archimica sells Puerto Rico facility and completes turnaround.
June 30, 2008... Archimica has completed the sale of its 5-fluorouracil production unit at Humacao, Puerto Rico to a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. No financial details have been released.

Stiefel commences tender offer to acquire Barrier Therapeutics.
June 30, 2008... Stiefel Laboratories' subsidiary Bengal Acquisition has begun a cash tender offer for Barrier Therapeutics. The operation aims to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock.

Dr Reddy's signs distribution pact with Albemarle.
June 30, 2008... Dr Reddy's Laboratories has entered into a worldwide distribution agreement with Albemarle for ibuprofen active ingredient.

York Pharma acquires antiinfective topical derm line from solvay.
June 30, 2008... York Pharma has acquired world marketing rights for two dermatological products from solvay. The deal is worth EUR 28.5 M in total.

Paladin, P&G enter Canadian copromotion agreement.
June 30, 2008... Paladin Labs has signed a co-marketing agreement with Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals Canada. This covers the sale of the oral contraceptive Seasonale in Canada.

IND submitted on behalf of Generex Biotechnology for combination immunotherapy vaccine trials.
June 30, 2008... Generex Biotechnology Corporation has had an investigational new drug (IND) submitted on its behalf for its AE37 immunotherapeutic vaccine in combination with a peptide vaccine. AE37 is being developed by Generex's subsidiary Antigen Express....

Halocarbon receives FDA approval to market sevoflurane for human anaesthetic market.
June 30, 2008... Halocarbon Products Corporation has obtained US FDA approval to market the inhalation anaesthetic sevoflurane.

FDC obtains FDA approval for ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution.
June 30, 2008... FDC has obtained approval from the US FDA for an abbreviated new drug application covering Ciprofloxacin Ophthalmic solution. The drug is used to treat ocular surface infections.

Hovione's sales grow 11%.
June 30, 2008... Hovione had consolidated sales of $103.7 M for its year ended 31 Mar 2008 (+11% on 2006/2007). The improvement is attributed to drug approvals by Hovione's customers in both the innovative and generic sectors. Hovione is also active in the...

Glenmark acquires seven pharmaceutical brands in Poland.
June 30, 2008... Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has entered into agreements with the Icelandic firm Actavis for the acquisition of 7 pharmaceutical brands in Poland. Financial details on the arrangements have not been released.

Nissan replaces metal engine covers.
June 30, 2008... Nissan has used glass-reinforced thermoplastics for the rocker and engine front cover of its Pathfinder 4x4 and Navara cars, instead of metal. The thermoplastics parts were manufactured by Spanish firms Fagor Ederlan and Maier. The rocker...

LM develops new blade technology.
June 30, 2008... Danish firm LM Glasfiber is developing a new wind turbine blade technology using new fibre varieties under the Blade King project. Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation has given LM a total of DKR 30 M for the project. The blade...

ACG's prepreg in British sports car.
June 30, 2008... Advanced Composites Group's (ACG) BPS240 carbon fibre body panel system is incorporated in the space-frame chassis of British sports car Farbio GTS. BPS240 is a ZPREG rapid deposition system that provides improved moulding abilities, stable...

HOBAS supplies composite culverts.
June 30, 2008... HOBAS handled the rehabilitation of steel circulars and archers along France's Highway A31 after the components reached their maximum lifetime. The company laid 635 metres of centrifugal cast glass-reinforced polyester (CC-GRP) pipes between...

KaZak makes UAV wings.
June 30, 2008... KaZak Composites, a US-based performance composites maker for the aerospace, military and commercial sectors, has developed cost efficient, lightweight carbon epoxy wings for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Having a high fibre volume, the...

Takeoff for carbon nanotubes.
June 30, 2008... The cowling of Avalon Aviation's single-engine aerobatic carbon composite aircraft Giles G-200 incorporates carbon nanotubes developed by Unidym Inc. The Unidym material enhances the strength and flexibility of the cowling as well as reduces...

Self-repairing aircraft.
June 30, 2008... Bristol University and Hexcel Composites Ltd are developing a technique to create self-healing aircrafts under a three-year project labelled 'Bleeding Composites: Damage Detection and Repair Using a Biomimetic Approach.' The venture received...

Spirit wins A350 XWB fuselage contract.
June 30, 2008... Spirit Aerosystems Inc has secured an approximately $2.75 bn contract from Airbus to design and manufacture the section 15 centre fuselage frame section of the new A350 XWB (Xtra Wide-Body) long range passenger aircraft. A350 XWB's airframe...

FRP opens fibreglass unit in Saudi Arabia.
June 30, 2008... A fibreglass facility called FIBER 1 has been started up by FRP Technology in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia. The unit is the first fibreglass factory on the west coast of the country. The plant will manufacture products belonging to the firm's FIBER1...

Hexcel opens Spain's first carbon fibre plant.
June 30, 2008... Hexcel has inaugurated a carbon fibre unit in Illescas, Spain. The facility is the first carbon fibre plant in the country and Hexcel's first in Europe. The Illescas plant will manufacture HexTow carbon fibres for supply to two nearby Airbus...

Quickstep and Vortex firm pipe joint venture.
June 30, 2008... Quickstep Holdings Ltd and Vortex Pipes have established a jv to develop high-end corrosion resistant composite pipes. The jv, named QuickPipes, will utilize Quickstep's fluid based technology, which is said to enhance strength and corrosion...

Toray pays up for price fixing.
June 30, 2008... Japanese firm Toray Industries Inc and its US unit have acceded to a $15.25 M fine to settle a price fixing lawsuit in the USA. Toray and its co-conspirators have allegedly fixed the prices of carbon fibres used in products purchased by the...

BASF targets Indian automotive market.
June 30, 2008... Chemical major BASF will invest in several projects to cater to India's expanding automotive sector. The company will construct an engineering plastics compounding unit at its existing facility in Thane. The unit is anticipated to start up by...

HITCO's carbon composites in B787.
June 30, 2008... HITCO Carbon Composites Inc has forged a deal with Italian Tier I supplier Alenia Aeronautica to produce and supply composite components for the Boeing 787 'Dreamliner' programme. HITCO, a US producer of advanced composites materials for...

Learjet 85 made at new facility.
June 30, 2008... Bombardier will produce the composite structure, along with electrical harness and sub-assembly systems, of its Learjet 85 business jet at its new manufacturing unit in Queretaro, Mexico. Grob Aerospace was chosen to develop the jet's all...

Rolls-Royce and GKN form jv.
June 30, 2008... Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace have established a jv that will look into the use composite materials to make lightweight and low-cost aero engine fan blades. The jv is anticipated to be given a funding of approximately #11 M, 51% of which will...

UAV employs Amber prepreg system.
June 30, 2008... UK firm Amber Composites' C740 prepreg system has been incorporated in Schiebel's CAMCOPTER S-100 compact helicopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). C740 is a flame retardant cyanate ester resin with a maximum post-cure peak temperature of 344...

MeTYX and Alcan sign distribution agreement.
June 30, 2008... Turkish firm METYX Composites and Alcan Airex have forged a distribution deal, pursuant to which METYX will become the exclusive distributor of Alcan's core materials in Turkey. Alcan's products are employed in lightweight sandwich structures.

Azelis introduces thermoplastics range.
June 30, 2008... A new portfolio of polybutylene terephthalates (PBTs) from Chinese firm Chang Chun Plastics has been launched by Azelis Plastics UK. The PBTs, which include unfilled, glass-reinforced and flame retardant UL 94 V0 grades, are ISO 9002 and ISO...

Marine adhesives.
June 30, 2008... SP is launching SP540 PB and SP540 LV, two high-performance modified epoxy adhesives. The products have been formulated to bond large production boats. Both adhesives are easy to use and offer consistently strong and durable bonds to a range...

Intertape offers new marine masking tape.
June 30, 2008... US firm Intertape Polymer Group is launching a new range of Anchor Marine Products for application in the marine and composites sectors. The products are useful for vacuum infusion and resin transfer moulding as well as in water-based mould...

Composite panels shield workers during pressure testing.
June 30, 2008... A tank manufacturing unit has installed high performance panels to protect its workers from steel plugs that could come free during pressure testing. The unit's management selected ShotBlocker from US firm Norplex-Micarta as panel material...

Composites soar ahead in UK project.
June 30, 2008... The Next Generation Composite Wing (NGCW) initiative is a three-year aircraft research and technology programme in the UK. NGCW aims to develop technologies for designing and producing more environmentally friendly and lighter aircraft. The...

Degradation and interactions: PLA under scrutiny.
June 30, 2008... The producers of PLA (polylactic acid) have asserted that PLA is compatible (with a tolerance not greater than 0.1%) with collection and recovery plants already operating in many European countries. Petcore (PET containers recycling Europe)...

Masterbatch for biodegrading.
June 30, 2008... A new series of additives from ECM Biofilms, ECM Masterbatch Pellets, are distributed exclusively in Italy by Italcom. These offer an alternative to biodegradable plastic. Any traditional polymer can be worked including the additives without...

Recycled products: Vegetalplast.
June 30, 2008... Vegetalplast is produced and marketed by Agrindustria in Italy. The granules are produced by extrusion of injection moulding and have characteristics similar to wood. They are produced from vegetable fibres (70-80%) and thermoplastic polymers...

PVC in Italy. [2 tables in original article].
June 30, 2008... According to Plastic Consult, in 2007 Italy processed 977,000 tonnes PVC (+1.2% compared with 2006). The building sector consumer 348,000 tonnes (35.6% of total) followed by packaging at 167,500 tonnes (17.1%). Recycled PVC was 85,000 tonnes....

BASF setting up engineering plastic plant in Thane.
June 30, 2008... BASF is building an engineering plastics compounding factory, with an initial capacity of 9000 tonnes/y, at its existing manufacturing complex in Thane, India. The plant will serve the automobile, as well as the electronic and electrical...

Speciality coating launched.
June 30, 2008... Antioll, an eco-friendly protective coating against corrosion, erosion, leakage, fungus and other damages, has been unveiled by Sree Vigneswara Polychem India Pvt Ltd. The speciality coating is ideal for a variety of substrates, including...

Tata unveils new low sodium salt.
June 30, 2008... Tata Chemicals Ltd has introduced a new brand of low sodium salt called Tata Salt Lite. The product will be sold in 1 kg pouches for customers and 50 kg outer bags for traders.

Phillips Carbon doubles funds for Vietnam joint venture.
June 30, 2008... Phillips Carbon Black Ltd has raised its investment commitment in its jv with the subsidiaries of Vietnam National Chemical Corp from Rup 1500 M to Rup 3000 M because the capacity of the plant has been expanded to 100,000 tonnes from 50,000...

HPCL FY 4Q 2007 net dips 30% on under-recovery.
June 30, 2008... Indian fuel retailer Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) reported a 30% decline in profit to Rup 3845 M in 4Q 2007 ended 31 Mar 2008 from Rup 5495 M in the same year-ago period. The company blamed the decline on being forced to sell fuel at...

Berger Paints allots 20 M warrants.
June 30, 2008... Jenson & Nicholson (Asia) has been allotted 20 M equity warrants that are convertible into equity shares of Rup 20 each within 18 months by Berger Paints India (BPI). The warrants are valued at Rup 49.50 each, or a total of Rup 990 M. The...

Chambal Fertilisers FY 2008 net zooms 69%.
June 30, 2008... Chambal Fertilisers & Chemicals has reported a consolidated net profit of Rup 2374.3 M for FY ended Mar 2008, up 69.36% from the same year-ago period. Net profit for 2006-2007 totalled Rup 1401.9 M. Stand alone net profit rose 16.13% to Rup...

GAIL FY 4Q 2007 up 6% at Rup 7220 M.
June 30, 2008... Natural gas marketer GAIL India's net profit for 4Q 2007 ended 31 Mar 2008 rose 6.1% to Rup 7223.8 M (Rup 6807.3 M) over the same year-ago period. Revenues from gas transmission and petrochemical sales grew 27.08% to Rup 49,352.9 M.

Kiri Dyes plans to enter Indonesia, Vietnam.
June 30, 2008... Kiri Dyes and Chemicals, a manufacturer of reactive dyes and intermediates based in Ahmedabad, India, plans to establish a presence in Vietnam and Indonesia to capitalize on the demand and export potential of the two countries. The company is...

Asian Paints' net grows 19%: FY 4Q 2007.
June 30, 2008... Asian Paints' net profit for FY 4Q ended 31 Mar 2008 rose 19.2% to Rup 848 M over the same year-ago period, thanks to volume gains in the company's core businesses. Total income amounted to Rup 8797 M, up 18.8% from Rup 7403 M. Net profit...

Fragrant India: past present & future. [1 table in original article].
June 30, 2008... The global flavours and fragrances market is valued at roughly $19 bn, with the Indian market estimated to be worth around $270 M. The organized fragrance market is worth some $137 M, with international houses representing roughly 70% of the...

Export data on flavours and fragrances. [2 tables in original article].
June 30, 2008... India's share of the $17.7 bn global market for fragrance, flavour, natural essential oils and aroma is about 6.5%, or $1150 M. India's rich bio diversity has enabled the country to produce numerous plant-based essential oils such as...

BASF opens concrete admixture plant in Kolkata.
June 30, 2008... A new concrete admixture plant has been inaugurated by BASF's Construction Chemicals business at Jalan Industrial Estate in Kolkata, India. The plant's output includes the company's complete line of concrete admixtures, including the high-end...

Uhde India successfully commissions phase II expansion of KCIL's caustic soda plant.
June 30, 2008... Kanoria Chemicals & Industries Ltd's (KCIL) phase II caustic soda expansion project at Renukoot, UP, India, has been successfully commissioned by Uhde India. The expansion entailed raising the capacity of the 110 tonne/day membrane cell...

Cut in customs duty to add Rup 120,000 M to refiners' kitty.
June 30, 2008... India's oil refineries will gain about Rup 120,000 M from the cut in customs duty on crude oil from 5% to zero. The companies that will benefit include four public sector refineries, namely Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp, Hindustan...

Atul signs a long term contract with Stamicarbon BV on phosgene chemistry.
June 30, 2008... Indian speciality chemicals firm Atul Ltd and Stamicarbon BV of the Netherlands, the DSM Licensing Center, have forged a long term manufacturing and supply deal involving a phosgene chemistry-based polymer performance additive. The...

KCP Biotech merges with parent co.
June 30, 2008... KCP Biotech Ltd's recent merger with its parent company KCP Ltd will give it the financial means to better support its natural food colour and flavour manufacturing operations. Despite the expanding market for its products, KCP Biotech has...

IICT, BHP Billiton sign MoU for joint research.
June 30, 2008... The Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in Hyderabad and the Australian miner BHP Billiton have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would involve working together on mining and mineral research. The BHP Billiton group...

IOC reports loss of Rup 4140 M in FY 4Q 2007.
June 30, 2008... Oil company Indian Oil Corp posted a net loss of Rup 4142.7 M in 4Q 2007-2008 compared with a profit of Rup 15,026.9 M in 4Q 2006-2007. Net profit stood at Rup 69,625.8 M in full year 2007-2008 compared with Rup 74,994.7 M in 2006-2007. A...

DCM Shriram buys 81% in fert co.
June 30, 2008... DCM Shriram Consolidated Ltd has bought an 81.41% interest in Shri Ganpati Fertilizers Ltd (SGFL) for Rup 80 M. SGFL, which is based in Rajasthan, Jaipur, India, makes single super phosphate (SSP) and has an SSP powder capacity of 1,98,000...

RCF, NFL, Kribhco jv to tap investment.
June 30, 2008... A jv named Urvarak Videh Ltd has been formed by Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilisers (RCF), National Fertiliser Ltd (NFL) and Krishak Bharati Cooperative Ltd (KRIBHCO) to look into investment opportunities in the nitrogenous, phosphatic and...

Maps (India) to set up new plant.
June 30, 2008... Biotech firm Maps (India) plans to build a submerged fermentation plant in Mar 2009 to add to its solid state fermentation (SSF) facilities. The plan is designed to enable the company to enter the food and beverage markets. The plant, to be...

Formulations biz drives pharma exports up 16% in 2007-2008.
June 30, 2008... India's sales abroad of pharmaceuticals amounted to Rup 287,030 M in 2007-2008, up 16% from Rup 246,000 in 2006-2007, according to provisional figures provided by the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil). The increase in the...

CSIR's polymer gets US patent; USV to license know-how.
June 30, 2008... A new technology for making the generic polymer sevelamer has been granted a US patent. The technology was developed by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) at its constituent lab in Pune, India, as per the directive...

Nagarjuna Oil refinery in TN to bring in investments.
June 30, 2008... Nagarjuna Oil Corp's Rup 50,000 M refinery project in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India, will bring in petrochemical investments in the area, which is planned to be developed into a Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR)....

New RPL refinery set for world record.
June 30, 2008... Reliance Petroleum Ltd (RPL) is aiming to build a 29 M tonne refinery adjacent to its 33 M tonne refinery in Jamnagar, India, in under 36 months. The export-oriented refinery would be able to process heavy and sour crude, and manufacture...

Tata Chem opens plant in Netherlands.
June 30, 2008... A EUR 15 M sodium bicarbonate plant has been opened by Tata Chemicals in Delfzijl, the Netherlands, adjacent to its Brunner Mond plant. The plant brings the company's global sodium bicarbonate output to 2,00,000 tonnes/y. One of the raw...

Honeywell, Loba Chemie sign distribution agreement for laboratory chemicals in India.
June 30, 2008... Indian company Loba Chemie has inked a multi-year deal to distribute Honeywell's high-purity solvents to the Indian pharmaceutical market, which is growing at an estimated rate of 8-9%. The solvents, which are sold under the brand name...