PARTNERSHIPS DEBUT AT INFORMEX

Abstract

EXHIBITORS at the annual Informex trade show in San Francisco last week put a positive spin on business in the fine chemicals sector, pointing to a continuing trend toward pharmaceutical outsourcing and signs of an upturn in the general economy. Several companies announced partnerships they claim will position them to take advantage of new opportunities to supply active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and intermediates. Dishman Group and Ampac Fine Chemicals announced collaborations with Codexis under which both companies will have access to Codexis’ enzymebased biocatalysis technology. Nick Green, president of Dishman Contract Research & Manufacturing Services, says the firm will manufacture products for Codexis and will also use the technology in its own contract production of APIs and intermediates. Aslam Malik, president of Ampac, says the agreement will allow his firm to add enzyme biocatalysis to its tools for chiral chemistry, which include simulated moving bed separations. Meanwhile, Albemarle’s...