- Email: [email protected]
First Asian R&D laboratory for Codexis
FOCUS Local organizations will provide an additional $3.8 M. Chemical and Engineering News, 1 Oct 2007, 85 (40), 22 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
First Asian R&D laboratory for Codexis Codexis (which specializes in developing active ingredients synthesis technology through biocatalysis) recently opened its first Asian R&D centre in Singapore. This will provide support to both innovative pharmaceutical companies and generics producers. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 5 Nov 2007, (400), 46 (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French)
Direvo and Danisco collaboration yields new industrial enzyme Direvo Biotech AG announced that an industrial enzyme protein engineering project in collaboration with Danisco A/S has yielded a significantly improved phytase enzyme. The project exploited Direvo’s high throughput, robotic screening and directed evolution technologies for enzyme optimization. Phytic acid is the main phosphate storage molecule in plants. Phytase enzymes release phosphate from phytic acid and thus have applications in multiple industrial markets. Press release from: Direvo Biotech AG, Nattermannallee 1, D-50829 Köln (Cologne), Germany. Fax: +49 221 8887 111. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.direvo.com (30 Oct 2007)
Dow invests in gasification firm Dow Chemical and Citi Alternative Investments have contributed to financing of $100 M to GreatPoint Energy, a developer of catalytic gasification technology. GreatPoint’s technology, which is used for transforming coal, petroleum coke, and biomass into natural gas, can help Dow expand its supply of feedstocks and energy. The company plans to utilize the funds to establish a large scale demonstration plant. Chemical and Engineering News, 1 Oct 2007, 85 (40), 21 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
Eon research into biogas The energy company Eon is investing SKR 12 M in biogas research at the biotechnology department at
JANUARY 2008
ON
C ATA LY S T S
LTH/Lund University. Four projects will be carried out up until 2011, two of which will involve energy crops such as hemp and beet, with the other two examining the enzymatic purification of biogas and the development of biorefineries. Kemivarlden Biotech med Kemisk Tidskrift, Nov 2007, (11), 10 (in Swedish)
Genencor collaborates with DONG Energy for bioethanol Danish companies Genencor, the enzymes division of Danisco A/S, and DONG Energy, are teaming up to manufacture second-generation bioethanol. The project is seeking public subsidies for the construction of a demonstration plant that will process 4 tonne/hr of straw and generate 4500 tonne/y of bioethanol. Genencor will provide enzymes for the demonstration plant, which is scheduled to be launched in 2009. Statoil and AgBioEnergy are also part of the project. Chemical Engineering (New York), Oct 2007, 114 (10), 14
Maxygen to receive $7 M from biofuel collaboration between Shell and Codexis Maxygen Inc announced that it expects to recognize about $7 M in revenue in 4Q 2007 under the terms of Maxygen’s licence agreement with Codexis Inc. The payment reflects the expanded collaboration agreement between Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell) and Codexis, announced 6 Nov 2007, for the development of new super enzymes to convert biomass to fuel. The expanded agreement covers five years of research collaboration. In addition Shell made an equity investment in Codexis as part of a larger financing. This financing reduces Maxygen’s ownership in Codexis to about 25% of Codexis’ outstanding shares. Press release from: Maxygen Inc, 200, Penobscot Drive, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA. Tel: +1 650 298 5300. Fax: +1 650 364 2715. Website: http://www.maxygen.com (19 Nov 2007)
Norske Skog shelves biodiesel production plans Norske Skog has discovered that it is completely possible to manufacture
diesel from timber, but that the price at the pump would be too high with today’s technology. The company will therefore not establish a biodiesel plant at Grenland, Norway. It was after closure of the Union paper plant that Norske Skog and Norsk Hydro launched plans for a biodiesel production facility based on timber. It had been hoped thereby to bring jobs to the area. However, the company’s director of communications has denied that the plans have been dropped for good. Biodiesel is still an exciting business possibility for Norske Skog’ development department and the company will work actively to make the idea commercially interesting. Hegnar Online, 1 Nov 2007 (Website: http://www.hegnar.no) (in Norwegian)
Novozymes announces satisfactory growth and earnings for first nine months of 2007 Novozymes reported results for first nine months of 2007. Sales for nine months of 2007 rose by 11% to DKR 5594 M (DKR 5038 M in nine months of 2006). Operating profit rose by 14% to DKR 1149 M for the first nine months of 2007 (DKR 1006 M in nine months of 2006). Net profit for nine months of 2007 rose by 21% to DKR 810 M (DKR 671 M in nine months of 2006). Growth was 10% excluding one-off items. Earnings/share (diluted) for the first nine months of 2007 were DKR 12.73, an increase of 24% compared with nine months of 2006. Novozymes is maintaining its outlook for 2007. Novozymes’ First Nine Months of 2007 Earnings, 25 Oct 2007 (Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd 2880, Denmark. Website: http://www.novozymes.com)
Novozymes’ US customer continues to expand bioethanol production Poet, the world’s biggest producer of bioethanol and a major purchaser of enzymes from Novozymes, is to continue its expansion plans at Gowrie, IA, on the basis of a strong confidence in the market for bioethanol as vehicle fuel. The company is continually on the lookout for takeover candidates and consolidations but is no less likely to start its own construction projects for
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First Asian R&D laboratory for Codexis Codexis (which specializes in developing active ingredients synthesis technology through biocatalysis) recently opened its first Asian R&D centre in Singapore. This will provide support to both innovative pharmaceutical companies and generics producers. Chimie Pharma Hebdo, 5 Nov 2007, (400), 46 (Website: http://www.france-chimie.com) (in French)
Direvo and Danisco collaboration yields new industrial enzyme Direvo Biotech AG announced that an industrial enzyme protein engineering project in collaboration with Danisco A/S has yielded a significantly improved phytase enzyme. The project exploited Direvo’s high throughput, robotic screening and directed evolution technologies for enzyme optimization. Phytic acid is the main phosphate storage molecule in plants. Phytase enzymes release phosphate from phytic acid and thus have applications in multiple industrial markets. Press release from: Direvo Biotech AG, Nattermannallee 1, D-50829 Köln (Cologne), Germany. Fax: +49 221 8887 111. E-mail: [email protected]. Website: http://www.direvo.com (30 Oct 2007)
Dow invests in gasification firm Dow Chemical and Citi Alternative Investments have contributed to financing of $100 M to GreatPoint Energy, a developer of catalytic gasification technology. GreatPoint’s technology, which is used for transforming coal, petroleum coke, and biomass into natural gas, can help Dow expand its supply of feedstocks and energy. The company plans to utilize the funds to establish a large scale demonstration plant. Chemical and Engineering News, 1 Oct 2007, 85 (40), 21 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org)
Eon research into biogas The energy company Eon is investing SKR 12 M in biogas research at the biotechnology department at
JANUARY 2008
ON
C ATA LY S T S
LTH/Lund University. Four projects will be carried out up until 2011, two of which will involve energy crops such as hemp and beet, with the other two examining the enzymatic purification of biogas and the development of biorefineries. Kemivarlden Biotech med Kemisk Tidskrift, Nov 2007, (11), 10 (in Swedish)
Genencor collaborates with DONG Energy for bioethanol Danish companies Genencor, the enzymes division of Danisco A/S, and DONG Energy, are teaming up to manufacture second-generation bioethanol. The project is seeking public subsidies for the construction of a demonstration plant that will process 4 tonne/hr of straw and generate 4500 tonne/y of bioethanol. Genencor will provide enzymes for the demonstration plant, which is scheduled to be launched in 2009. Statoil and AgBioEnergy are also part of the project. Chemical Engineering (New York), Oct 2007, 114 (10), 14
Maxygen to receive $7 M from biofuel collaboration between Shell and Codexis Maxygen Inc announced that it expects to recognize about $7 M in revenue in 4Q 2007 under the terms of Maxygen’s licence agreement with Codexis Inc. The payment reflects the expanded collaboration agreement between Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell) and Codexis, announced 6 Nov 2007, for the development of new super enzymes to convert biomass to fuel. The expanded agreement covers five years of research collaboration. In addition Shell made an equity investment in Codexis as part of a larger financing. This financing reduces Maxygen’s ownership in Codexis to about 25% of Codexis’ outstanding shares. Press release from: Maxygen Inc, 200, Penobscot Drive, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA. Tel: +1 650 298 5300. Fax: +1 650 364 2715. Website: http://www.maxygen.com (19 Nov 2007)
Norske Skog shelves biodiesel production plans Norske Skog has discovered that it is completely possible to manufacture
diesel from timber, but that the price at the pump would be too high with today’s technology. The company will therefore not establish a biodiesel plant at Grenland, Norway. It was after closure of the Union paper plant that Norske Skog and Norsk Hydro launched plans for a biodiesel production facility based on timber. It had been hoped thereby to bring jobs to the area. However, the company’s director of communications has denied that the plans have been dropped for good. Biodiesel is still an exciting business possibility for Norske Skog’ development department and the company will work actively to make the idea commercially interesting. Hegnar Online, 1 Nov 2007 (Website: http://www.hegnar.no) (in Norwegian)
Novozymes announces satisfactory growth and earnings for first nine months of 2007 Novozymes reported results for first nine months of 2007. Sales for nine months of 2007 rose by 11% to DKR 5594 M (DKR 5038 M in nine months of 2006). Operating profit rose by 14% to DKR 1149 M for the first nine months of 2007 (DKR 1006 M in nine months of 2006). Net profit for nine months of 2007 rose by 21% to DKR 810 M (DKR 671 M in nine months of 2006). Growth was 10% excluding one-off items. Earnings/share (diluted) for the first nine months of 2007 were DKR 12.73, an increase of 24% compared with nine months of 2006. Novozymes is maintaining its outlook for 2007. Novozymes’ First Nine Months of 2007 Earnings, 25 Oct 2007 (Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, Bagsvaerd 2880, Denmark. Website: http://www.novozymes.com)
Novozymes’ US customer continues to expand bioethanol production Poet, the world’s biggest producer of bioethanol and a major purchaser of enzymes from Novozymes, is to continue its expansion plans at Gowrie, IA, on the basis of a strong confidence in the market for bioethanol as vehicle fuel. The company is continually on the lookout for takeover candidates and consolidations but is no less likely to start its own construction projects for
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