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COLLABORATION PRODUCT SAFETY CONCERNS
Evonik using Knauer’s expertise to improve scale Clean beauty activist urges US-FDA to ban toxic

up of lipid nanoparticles formulations hair relaxers

An open letter from the Clean Beauty lungs or when coming into contact with
Evonik is collaborating with Knauer scientifi c instruments used in research
Wissenschaftliche Geräte GmbH, a and commercial applications. Recently, Action Network (CBAN) has urged US- the eyes or skin.
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf to act
German manufacturer of scientifi c in- Evonik implemented Knauer’s on the agency’s promise to ban toxic hair “The big picture here is that most
struments, to improve the upscaling of IJM NanoScaler Pro technology, which relaxers amid research from the agency consumers don’t know that the cos-
lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations. addresses the long-standing challenges that shows some hair relaxers contain metics and beauty products we use
in nucleic acid LNP formulations by
“By combining Evonik’s formula- reducing the need for labour-inten- formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. don’t have to be verifi ed as safe. Peo-
tion and scale-up expertise with Knauer’s sive and time-consuming experiments, CBAN founder Ms. Daphne Nguyen ple are rightly shocked and appalled
said Mr. Califf must immediately prio-
that our personal care products con-
technological know-how, customers thereby signifi cantly reducing the time ritise the USFDA rulemaking process on tain formaldehyde, asbestos and other
can improve effi ciency and increase and material costs associated with using formaldehyde in hair relaxers. CBAN, a youth-led nonprofi t organi- toxic chemicals and carcinogens,” Ms.
speed to market, signifi cantly cutting screening for optimal LNP formula- sation aims to make the cosmetics Nguyen said in her letter. CBAN’s
the initial pre-clinical development tions on platforms that do not necessa- The letter highlighted the delayed industry a “safer, greener and more advocacy refl ects growing concern over
time,” Evonik said in a press note. worldwide with lipids and LNP drug rily upscale when introduced into more rule-making process regarding the ban ethical landscape” through scientifi c re- the underregulated cosmetics indus-
product development activities. The proven IJM large scale systems.
“Our extensive expertise in chemis- LNP market alone is estimated to be on formaldehyde in hair smoothing search, public education and advocacy. try and the urgent need for regulatory
action to protect consumers from
try and formulation science has enabled over $600-mn (up to $1-bn) with conti- Lipids are the building blocks of and straightening products. Despite Chemical hair relaxers break down harmful chemicals. The call to ban
the proposed rule being listed under
us to capture a signifi cant proportion of nued growth projected over the next living cells and are essential for the Regulation Identifi er Number (RIN) proteins in the hair to straighten it. Ac- formaldehyde aligns with the broader
the growing market for mRNA and gene decade. effi cient encapsulation and delivery of #0910-AI83 and scheduled for public cording to the USFDA, the formalde- mission to promote clean beauty and
therapies. Thanks to our collaboration mRNA and other nucleic acid-based comment in April 2024, there has been hyde used in these products presents ensure products are safe for both
with Knauer, we are now even better “Together with Knauer, we can in- drugs. The nucleic acids are encased no progress. health hazards when breathed into the people and the planet.
positioned to offer differentiation op- crease the speed with which we go from in an LNP composed of specifi c lipids,
tions,” said Mr. Yann d’Hervé, head of very small-scale prototypes to produc- which not only protects the nucleic acid LITHIUM MINING
the Health Care business line at Evonik. tion-scale lead formulations, and then from degradation, but also ensures its
directly into GMP production of drug safe delivery into cells where it can be Pilbara Minerals set to acquire Latin Resources
Nucleic acid therapeutics represent products,” said Ms. Andrea Engel, head released. LNPs have emerged as the
a huge and expanding proportion of the of Growth Projects Evonik Health Care. most advanced drug delivery system, Australian lithium mining fi rms – Minerals shares upon implementing
overall parental drugs market. Evon- highlighted by their role in the global Pilbara Minerals and Latin Resources – the scheme. Based on Pilbara Minerals’
ik supplies pharmaceutical companies Knauer is known for its high-end fi ght against COVID-19. have announced plans to merge. Pilbara closing price of $2.85 per share on
Minerals has inked a binding scheme
August 14, 2024, the transaction implies
DKSH extends distribution deal with Cosucra in implementation agreement (SIA) to a value of $0.20 per Latin share, repre-
Australia and New Zealand acquire smaller peer, Latin Resources senting a 57% premium to the compa-
for an implied value of A$559.9-mn
ny’s 10-day volume weighted average
($369.4-mn). As part of the proposed price of $0.127 per share. Latin
DKSH has expanded its exclusive for healthy, sustainable, and tasty food transaction, Pilbara Minerals, which Resources’ board has unanimously
distribution agreement with Cosucra, a products. Cosucra’s naturally produced, has a market capitalisation of $8.57-bn, recommended the deal in the absence
Belgian producer of natural and healthy trademarked ingredient range includes will secure Latin Resources’ fl agship of a better proposal.
food ingredients, in Australia and New Fibrulose and Fibruline chicory root Salinas Lithium Project, which has
Zealand. fi bre, Pisane pea protein isolate range, potential to become a top 10 hard rock Pilbara Minerals’ CEO Mr. Dale
as well as Swelite pea fi bre, and Nastar lithium operation by production glob- Henderson said the acquisition is
DKSH’s performance materials pea starch. ally. The project lies in the Minas Ge- on-strategy, diversifying the business
business unit will provide business rais region of Brazil, with development with what is believed to be a coun-
development, marketing, sales, logistics, Cosucra and DKSH have been part- fl exibility to supply new markets. ter-cyclical, accretive extension that
and distribution services for Cosucra’s Cosucra utilises the properties of nering in several countries in Europe shares in the new merged company for builds out the company’s position as
range of dietary fi bres and plant-based two natural raw materials, chicory and Asia, including Germany, Switzer- Under the binding SIA, Latin Re- each Latin Resources share held, and one of the “leading lithium materials
proteins in Australia and New Zealand. roots and peas, to develop ingredients land, and the Philippines. sources shareholders will receive 0.07 will also own about 6.4% of Pilbara suppliers globally”.

162 Chemical Weekly August 27, 2024 Chemical Weekly August 27, 2024 163

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