Page 165 - CW E-Magazine (11-6-2024)

News from Abroad News from Abroad

INDUSTRY-ACADEMIA PARTNERSHIP PHARMA PACKAGING
Merck announces scientifi c collaboration in Korea Bormioli Pharma presents fi ndings demonstrating

Merck, the German science and tech- safety of its bottles made with recycled PET resin
nology company, has signed a non-binding
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Bormioli Pharma, the Italian pharma-
with the Korea Advanced Institute of ceutical packaging and medical devices
Science and Technology (KAIST) aimed fi rm, has presented an independent study
at advancing the R&D ecosystem in South demonstrating that bottles made with
Korea for industrial applications. 100% recycled, virgin-quality Loop PET
resin contain “zero extractables with toxi-
“Our collaboration with KAIST is cological relevance, making this plastic
an important step towards accelerating packaging solution one of the safest for
the biotechnology ramp-up for both pharmaceutical applications”.
the local and global life science industry,”
said Mr. Matthias Heinzel, Member of Developed from PET resin supplied
the Executive Board of Merck and CEO by Loop Industries, the containers have
Life Science. “Advancing research and extractables values well below even con-
preparing the next generation of scientists ventional solutions in virgin PET under the
is key to discovering new medicines to most challenging conditions, the company
meet the needs of a global population.” said. “The results of the research confi rm with fi ve different solutions, one of which Lodetti, CEO of Bormioli Pharma. “The
Merck and KAIST will also estab- rate venture fund M Ventures will team that bottles manufactured with Loop PET was particularly aggressive – a 50% iso- complete and solid scientifi c tests that
Through the partnership, Merck will lish an experience lab in Korea. It aims up with the KAIST entrepreneurial team exceed the performance of bottles made propanol solution – to simulate the bottle’s have been ran gave an unambiguous re-
provide products from its chemistry and to support researchers in improving their to build a startup ecosystem as part of from virgin PET which already guarantee performance under the most challenging sult: the bottles manufactured with Loop
biology portfolios for researchers in the skills for developing new application the partnership. full compliance with European Pharma- environmental conditions, comparing the PET resin do not release any substance
lab. Merck will also offer development notes and scientifi c workfl ows in areas copoeia extractable limits by a margin of results with the requirements of the USP deemed of toxicological relevance,
opportunities for KAIST researchers. such as material analysis, drug discovery, Merck has been present in Korea for about 90%,” it added. and European Pharmacopoeia. despite being exposed to a variety of
These include the participation in the and omics solutions. 30 years. During that time, the company extraction conditions, also including one
annual international programmes, has made several investments to serve the The research was conducted by the “The analysis has confi rmed that the worst-case scenario. For this reason, we
Innovation Cup and the Curious Future A research partnership will also be region’s biopharmaceutical industry. In specialised laboratory and commented on pharmaceutical packaging bottles manu- can affi rm that this material is a secure
Insight Conference as well as fellow- established for joint R&D collaboration, March, the company announced a €300-mn with a report by the Mario Veronesi Tech- factured with Loop PET resin represent and reliable option for pharmaceutical
ships for graduate students and awards focusing on advancing innovation in investment to build a new bioprocessing nopole Institute of Mirandola (Italy), part today’s golden standard for the pharma- applications,” commented Professor
for professors. prioritised research areas. Merck’s corpo- production facility in Daejeon. of the Democenter-Sipe Foundation. The ceutical industry from a safety point Aldo Tomasi, Scientifi c Director of the
analysis was conducted using tools such as of view, in addition to environmental Mario Veronesi Technopole Institute of
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS mass spectrometry and various solvents, performance,” commented Mr. Andrea Mirandola.
CPHI & PMEC China to begin from June 19 in Shanghai GLOB AL RANKING

The annual pharma exhibition, attendance from ingredients, machinery, The event will play host to some Brenntag leads ICIS’s top 100 chemical distributors list
CPHI & PMEC China, is returning to clean rooms and fi nished dosages to 100+ conference sessions including
the Shanghai New International Expo contract services, packaging, laboratories the China-World Innovation and Deve- Germany-based chemical distribution Nagase & Co. at $6.5-bn and Nether- wide are adapting to better target key
Centre from June 19 to 21 amid soaring and biologics. The event will also host lopment Forum 2024 and the 9th major, Brenntag, with $18.6-bn in 2023 lands-based IMCD at $5.1-bn. The global opportunities,” said Mr. Joseph Chang,
demand across the pharmaceutical supply China Pharma Week, which features seven China Biopharmaceuticals Outlook sales has again been ranked number one ranking, compiled by American informa- global editor of ICIS Chemical Business.
chain in Asia. networking streams. Summit. Further sessions will explore in the 15th annual ‘ICIS Top 100 Chemi- tion provider, ICIS, includes information “There is no dearth of challenges, from
guidance on working in China and cal Distributors’ global ranking based on on more than 300 companies. The regional sluggish yet slowly recovering demand,
Around 3,500 exhibitors and 60,000 Another highlight will be the overcoming cultural barriers, oppor- 2023 sales and year-end 2023 currency leaders are Brenntag (Europe), Univar shipping disruptions from geopolitical
attendees from 150 countries are ex- ‘CPHI & PMEC China Awards’, spanning tunities in the Ethiopian pharmaceutical exchange rates. Solutions (North America), Nagase & Co. turmoil, heightened regulatory activity
pected to attend the expo spread over categories like API development, part- market, out-licensing in emerging (Asia Pacifi c), and Tricon Energy (Latin and sustainability needs of customers,
a massive 210,000-sq.m. of exhibition nering, global expansion, sustainability markets, and the future of Traditional Brenntag is followed by US-based America/Middle East & Africa). “Amid increasing tariffs, deindustrialisation in
space. Exhibitors will span 12 different infl uencers, excipients, natural ingredients, Chinese Medicine and other natural Univar Solutions at $11.5-bn, US-based an ever-changing business and regulatory Europe and reworking of supply chains
zones with the entire supply chain in and packaging innovation. health products. Tricon Energy at $10.6-bn, Japan-based landscape, chemical distributors world- from reshoring/nearshoring,” he added.

164 Chemical Weekly June 11, 2024 Chemical Weekly June 11, 2024 165

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