Business Concentrates AGRICULTURE
▸ Phoenix Chemical goes to private equity Polymer Solutions Group, owned by the New York City-based private equity firm Arsenal Capital, has purchased Phoenix Chemical. Headquartered in Calhoun, Ga., Phoenix makes and distributes specialty chemicals for the carpet, water treatment, and cleaning industries. Polymer Solutions says Phoenix will complement its other divisions, such as specialty polymer maker Peach State Labs and rubber chemical makers Flow Polymers and Sasco Chemical.—ALEX TULLO
AGRICULTURE
▸ Syngenta licenses new fungicide Swiss crop protection firm Syngenta has licensed a fungicide active ingredient called picarbutrazox from the Japanese firm Nippon Soda. Part of a new class of
N N N N
O O
N H
N
O
N
Picarbutrazox chemicals, picarbutrazox controls fungal diseases that spread via oomycetes, including Pythium damping off and seedling blight. These diseases can lower germination rates in reduced or no-tillage farming and in cold, damp soil conditions. Syngenta’s license is for use in seed coatings. Nippon Soda already sells it as a spray for vegetables.—MELODY BOMGARDNER
ENERGY STORAGE
▸ China mandates car battery recycling Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers will be responsible for recycling the batteries in their vehicles, according to new rules jointly issued by several Chinese government agencies. The rules, effective Aug. 1, also mandate that automakers set up a national network of service stations
10
C&EN | CEN.ACS.ORG | MARCH 5, 2018
Neonicotinoids slammed in European report The path forward for the use of neonicotinoid insecticides in Europe grew foggy last week after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released an updated assessment concluding that use of the chemicals carries high risk to honeybees, wild bees, and bumblebees. EFSA based its assessment on scientific evidence gathered since 2013. That year, the European Union restricted the use of three neonicotinoids—clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam—on the basis of research available at the time. The ban was originally set to expire after two years, but in 2015 additional studies were released that continued to show risks to bee health. At the time, Bayer Cropscience, maker of clothianidin and imidacloprid, and Syngenta, maker of thiamethoxam, said the restrictions were based on a flawed assessment and that the research was incomplete. In response to the new report, Bayer contends the pesticides can be used without harming bees. The company criticizes the guidance EFSA developed to measure risk to pollinators as “unworkable.”—MELODY BOMGARDNER
where car owners can discard or exchange old batteries. The rules further obligate battery makers to standardize their products to facilitate end-of-life recovery. The government says it will support R&D to improve the recyclability of batteries. China started producing electric cars in 2009 and is now home to the world’s largest fleet.—JEAN-FRANÇOIS TREMBLAY
MATERIALS
▸ U.K. incubator focuses on photonics The Centre for Process Innovation, a U.K. government agency, has teamed with Durham University to create an incubator to help small firms commercialize photonics technologies. Named Spotlight, the initiative aims to promote proof-of-conSpotlight will help cept research and small companies technology scalecommercialize their photonics up in applications technologies. such as health care
diagnostics. The service will run for three years. The EU has provided $1.2 million to fund it. The U.K. is hoping the initiative will lead to a research hub for photonics in the Durham area.—ALEX SCOTT
BIOLOGICS
▸ Viela Bio spins off from MedImmune Viela Bio, a new company based in Gaithersburg, Md., has spun off from AstraZeneca’s MedImmune subsidiary. Viela will develop biologics for inflammation and autoimmune diseases, starting with three clinical and three preclinical antibodies it is receiving from MedImmune. Viela’s series A funding, potentially worth up to $250 million, was led by three Chinese investment firms: Boyu Capital, 6 Dimensions Capital, and Hillhouse Capital.—RYAN CROSS
OUTSOURCING
▸ WuXi, Regulus join for oligonucleotides WuXi AppTec’s STA Pharmaceutical contract manufacturing business and Regulus Therapeutics have launched an oligonucleotide synthesis and manufacturing collaboration. STA will work with the biotech firm on preclinical and clinical programs
C R E D I T: CP I
SPECIALTY CHEMICALS
