Chemical industry news and analysis

Moderna’s vaccine regulatory hokey-cokey

US FDA initially refused to accept flu vaccine for review, but has since reversed that decision

High‑throughput retrosynthesis for real‑world chemistry

Sponsored by Merck

Join us on 24 March to discover how retrosynthesis software, paired with application programming interfaces, can accelerate route design, virtual screening and practical synthesis decisions

EU adds hefty anti-dumping duties to 1,4-butanediol

Imports from China, US and Saudi Arabia will see tariffs of 52–143%

Unlocking the power of plasma for chemistry

Scientists are using non-thermal plasma to produce fertiliser and long-chain hydrocarbons. Mason Wakley talks to the chemists harnessing the fourth state of matter

Highlights

Unlocking the power of plasma for chemistry

Scientists are using non-thermal plasma to produce fertiliser and long-chain hydrocarbons. Mason Wakley talks to the chemists harnessing the fourth state of matter

In 2023, the UK was the first country to approve a Crispr therapy. How’s it doing?

Disconnect exists between the media hype around gene-editing treatment and the reality for patients

Plastic recycling is contracting when it needs to grow

High costs, oversupply of virgin polymers and complex political environment are challenging industry

Pharmaceuticals roundup 2025

Policy swings have made it a slippery year for pharma

Chemicals industry roundup 2025

Europe hit hard by China’s independence push, but India is growing

Pharmaceutical

Moderna’s vaccine regulatory hokey-cokey

US FDA initially refused to accept flu vaccine for review, but has since reversed that decision

High‑throughput retrosynthesis for real‑world chemistry

Sponsored by Merck

Join us on 24 March to discover how retrosynthesis software, paired with application programming interfaces, can accelerate route design, virtual screening and practical synthesis decisions

Slimming down competition over weight-loss drugs

Legal battle between Novo Nordisk and US compounding pharmacy Hims & Hers has fizzled after regulator intervention

World first for clinical trial of skin patch to monitor therapeutic drugs in real time

Sensor could soon help doctors to prevent overdoses of drugs

Regulation

Moderna’s vaccine regulatory hokey-cokey

US FDA initially refused to accept flu vaccine for review, but has since reversed that decision

EU adds hefty anti-dumping duties to 1,4-butanediol

Imports from China, US and Saudi Arabia will see tariffs of 52–143%

EPA moves to eliminate basis of greenhouse gas regulations

Legal challenges predicted as US environmental protection agency rescinds long-standing ‘endangerment finding’

Slimming down competition over weight-loss drugs

Legal battle between Novo Nordisk and US compounding pharmacy Hims & Hers has fizzled after regulator intervention

Controversial weedkiller dicamba reapproved in the US

Regulator says new label restrictions will prevent damage of nearby crops

Probing PFAS policies in the UK and EU

The UK has set out its approach to regulating fluorochemicals, and the EU has projected the savings from a proposed ban

Industrial chemistry

World first for clinical trial of skin patch to monitor therapeutic drugs in real time

Sensor could soon help doctors to prevent overdoses of drugs

Global analysis identifies trends in platform chemical research

Ammonia and methanol lead shift towards greener technologies

Suppressing side reactions brings efficiency boosts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Two new strategies tackle Fischer–Tropsch’s problematic side reactions

This fragment-based drug discovery library is designed to be sociable

Study targets a key bottleneck in hit to lead optimisation by designing fragments that are both structurally diverse and easy to elaborate

All stirred up: chemical engineers refute claims that ‘stirring doesn’t matter’

Failing to mix reactions in heterogeneous or industrial systems could cause numerous issues and might even be dangerous, preprint claims

Unrecovered byproducts from US mines could meet the country’s demand for dozens of critical materials

Huge quantities of metals and other elements are discarded each year in mining waste

Ten years on, pharma industry still testing for implausible alkyl sulfonate ester contaminants

Risk assessment for potential mutagenic side-products is still required by regulatory bodies, despite lack of evidence they form during drug production

Polymer membrane separates hydrocarbons, offering alternative to distillation

Microporous membrane enables energy efficient chemical separations

Newsletters

Agrochemical

Controversial weedkiller dicamba reapproved in the US

Regulator says new label restrictions will prevent damage of nearby crops

Dow to cut 4500 jobs in productivity drive

Firm claims AI and automation will help revive growth during sustained industrial downturn

Petrochemical

EU adds hefty anti-dumping duties to 1,4-butanediol

Imports from China, US and Saudi Arabia will see tariffs of 52–143%

Carbon border taxes may do more harm than good

Industry argues UK proposals are flawed and will not promote decarbonisation

Fine and speciality

EU adds hefty anti-dumping duties to 1,4-butanediol

Imports from China, US and Saudi Arabia will see tariffs of 52–143%

Dow to cut 4500 jobs in productivity drive

Firm claims AI and automation will help revive growth during sustained industrial downturn

Probing PFAS policies in the UK and EU

The UK has set out its approach to regulating fluorochemicals, and the EU has projected the savings from a proposed ban

Rethinking hydrogen peroxide production

Hydro-Oxy and Addible both aim to transform how industry produces and uses a ubiquitous oxidant.

Bench-stable butyllithium & secrets of Pompeii’s limescale

In this episode, we discuss the latest formulations designed to make a set of fiery reagents safer, explore what limescale can tell us about ancient civilizations and hear the latest headlines.