trial applications of cyclodextrins, ring-shaped sugars used to bind, release, or stabilize substances. The lab, in Adrian, Mich.,
North America, following LAB Research Group in 2011 and AccelLAB last year. And Almac Group of Northern Ireland acquired BioClin Laboratories, an Irish analytical services firm specializing in microbiology and bioanalysis.—RICK MULLIN
Wacker will test industrial applications of cyclodextrins in its new lab.
RADIOCHEMISTRY
will study cyclodextrins in applications such as self-healing coatings and water treatment.—
Novartis will pay $3.9 billion to acquire Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA), a French radiopharmaceutical firm that makes cancer therapies and diagnostics. AAA’s sales in the first half of 2017 were only $78 million, but analysts suggest that Novartis may replace its patent-expired cancer therapy Sandostatin—which brings in $1.6 billion per year—with AAA’s Lutathera. That therapy was recently approved in Europe to treat gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, the cancer that killed Apple founder Steve Jobs in 2011.—RYAN CROSS
MICHAEL MCCOY
OUTSOURCING
▸ Three pharma service contractors acquire Concept Life Sciences, an English drug discovery, development, and analytical services company, has acquired Aquila BioMedical, a Scottish preclinical contract research organization (CRO). Aquila focuses on drug development services in oncology, biomarker discovery, and target expression. CiToxLAB Group, a nonclinical CRO based in Evreux, France, purchased Xenometrics, a Stilwell, Kan.-based CRO. It is the French firm’s third acquisition in
C R E D I T: WAC K ER C H E MI E
▸ Cabot Corp. will acquire Tech Blend, a Canadian producer of black color concentrates for plastics, for $64 million. Cabot says the firm will complement the black concentrate plants it already operates in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
HN H2N
▸ Novartis buys French cancer drug company
DRUG DEVELOPMENT
▸ Sumitomo licenses diabetes drug Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma will pay $42 million up front for the right to develop Poxel’s type 2 diabetes treatment imeg-
Business Roundup ▸ Kemira is investing nearly $35 million to expand capacity for polyacrylamide used in enhanced oil recovery. The company expects the expansion, which will occur at its Botlek, Netherlands, facility, will be completed in early 2019.
limin in several Asian countries, including Japan and China. Poxel is in talks with Japanese regulators about the design of three
▸ Evonik Industries will expand capacity for the bleaching agent hydrogen peroxide at four of its European sites in response to increased demand from customer sectors including paper pulp and textiles. The German firm plans to wrap up the project by mid-2018. ▸ DIC, a Japanese chemical company, has invested $5.8 million in Fermentalg, a French producer of algae for nutrition and health markets. The two firms recently announced a deal to develop food coloring from algae.
N N
N(CH3)2
Imeglimin Phase III studies slated to begin there by the end of this year. Poxel is looking for a partner to develop the compound in the U.S. and Europe. While currently marketed diabetes drugs modulate glucose levels, Poxel’s drug increases the amount of glucose excreted in urine.—LISA JARVIS
VACCINES
▸ Synthetic Genomics boosts RNA vaccines Synthetic Genomics has formed two partnerships to pursue RNA replicon-based vaccines, in which self-replicating RNA molecules encode multiple antigen proteins to produce an immune response. One partner, Arcturus Therapeutics, will share its RNA delivery system for an undisclosed payment plus milestones and royalties. Arcturus and Janssen recently agreed to develop hepatitis B treatments with the RNA delivery technology. Synthetic Genomics will also partner with Ceva Santé Animale to develop livestock vaccines.—RYAN CROSS
▸ Frutarom has agreed to acquire all remaining shares of the nutritional ingredients maker Enzymotec for $210 million. The acquisitive Israeli flavors maker previously paid $42 million for a 19% stake. Enzymotec has $47 million in annual sales and employs 235 people in Israel and the U.S. ▸ DuPont Pioneer has inked a multiyear partnership with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to improve food security crops. DuPont will provide CRISPR/Cas gene-editing technology to Danforth scientists working to improve cassava, teff, sorghum, millet, and other
crops grown by smallholder farmers. ▸ Sarepta Therapeutics will license CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology from Duke University to develop therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Duke researchers previously used CRISPR to correct mutations in the dystrophin gene of DMD mouse models. ▸ Boehringer Ingelheim and Dicerna Pharmaceuticals will codevelop RNA interference drugs for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and other liver diseases. Dicerna will get up to $201 million in up-front and milestone payments.
NOVEMBER 6, 2017 | CEN.ACS.ORG | C&EN
15
