Acquisition

Lonza has acquired Vivante GMP Solutions. Vivante is focused on the new field of virus-delivered therapeutics. Virus-based drugs, which include vaccines and gene therapies, use a deactivated virus to deliver active ingredients inside targeted cells. According to a company spokesperson, the acquisition will enable Lonza to accelerate its entry into the viral-based manufacturing arena.

Biologic Drugs

ScinoPharm is taking its initial steps into the realm of biologic drugs. The firm has made an investment of an undisclosed size in Tanvex Biologics. Hardy Chan, co-founder and chief scientific officer of ScinoPharm, will become Tanvex’ CEO. Tanvex is building a manufacturing facility in San Diego and will have research centers in both the U.S. and Taiwan’s Nankang Software Park.

Plant Construction

Keyuan Petrochemicals, Inc. has commenced construction of its first Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) production facility in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China. The plant will be adjacent to the company’s current production facility. The new SBS facility is expected to add 70,000 metric tons to Keyuan’s production capacity by the end of 2011. The company estimates a $17.5 million capital expenditure investment.

Plant Expansion