Highlights

Tractor spraying glyphosate at sunset

The glyphosate debate

The EU has recently approved the use of glyphosate for another decade. Bárbara Pinho examines the controversial pesticide’s presence in British farming and considers the possibility of a ban in the UK

Graphic with large F and several bottles of pills

Putting the F in pharma

Adding fluorine to drug molecules can be tricky, but is often worthwhile. Rachel Brazil talks to the chemists trying to tame the ninth element

Closeup on a blister pack with male contraceptive pills

On the trail of the male contraceptive pill

As multiple novel male contraception compounds enter clinical trials, is family planning about to undergo a second revolution? James Mitchell Crow reports

Paper shredder shredding a protein structure

The promise of drugs that send proteins to the shredder

Andy Extance charts how research into revolutionary targeted protein degradation therapies is moving from serendipity to strategic discovery

Gas flaring

Chemicals industry roundup 2024

Europe continues to struggle with high energy and feedstock costs, while US and Asia negotiate supply gluts

Meeting

Welcome to the MegaPharm target selection and project resourcing meeting

Overheard recently in a seminar room near you…

Hands holding a weight loss injection pen, soft lighting from filtered sunshine through net curtains

Weight loss drug supply races

With official shortages ended, but the first generics gearing up for launch, companies are looking for the next generation of drugs

Michael Hallgren

Ending of US weight-loss drug shortages prompts compounder complaints

Decision ends pharmacies’ permission to prepare versions of GLP-1 hormone mimics

Emma Walmsley

Why companies are rushing to flatter Trump

Pharma firms are among many pausing diversity programmes and promising domestic investment 

Agriculture - A farmer spraying fertilizer on his crops - North Yorkshire - England.

How a herbicide illustrates the many ways chemicals are put to the test

The glyphosate debate highlights the complexity of chemicals regulation

Getting into the weeds of the glyphosate debate

Assessments of the risk posed by the controversial herbicide depend on how the evidence is weighed

US reviews chemical incident prevention planning rules

Risk Management Program has been extended and rolled back under successive governments

Weight loss drug supply races

With official shortages ended, but the first generics gearing up for launch, companies are looking for the next generation of drugs

US drops chloroprene emissions lawsuit against Denka

Government says lawsuit stretched legal definitions in pursuit of ‘environmental justice’

Ending of US weight-loss drug shortages prompts compounder complaints

Decision ends pharmacies’ permission to prepare versions of GLP-1 hormone mimics

All-atom molecular dynamics simulation of peptide-membrane systems

Generative AI pipeline creates promising antimicrobial peptides

AI model extrapolates beyond training data to predict diverse antimicrobial structures

Pill dropped in water

Far more drugs could be taken orally by formulating them with silica nanoparticles

Many more medicines could be made water soluble making taking them easier for patients

Well plate

Mapping metabolite disturbances by drugs

High-throughput metabolomic profiling gives insight into unpredictable drug effects

Metal–organic framework captures carbon dioxide at industrially relevant temperatures

Material could improve energy efficiency of capturing carbon from industy’s exhaust gases

Fluorspar to fluorine chemicals without going via hazardous hydrogen fluoride

Safer way to turn calcium fluoride mineral into valuable industrial materials

Banned pigments found in tattoo inks sold in the EU

Nine out of 10 green and blue inks analysed violate Reach regulations

Nanopore sequencing set to transform our understanding of proteins

Rapid sequencing technique can not only deal with proteins hundreds of amino acids long but can detect modifications

How F1 plans to transition to ‘100% sustainable fuel’

Rule changes intend to make Formula One more environmentally friendly from 2026. But what are the changes, and can a sport known for gas-guzzling engines really go green?

An air quality monitoring station near a chemical plant

US drops chloroprene emissions lawsuit against Denka

Government says lawsuit stretched legal definitions in pursuit of ‘environmental justice’

New Trump tariffs worry North American chemical industries

High duties on imports from Canada, Mexico and China raise problems for international supply chains

Biomanufacturing proliferates in chemicals

Fermentation can improve sustainability at competitive costs

Dow to cut 1500 jobs as global chemicals industry reshapes

US firm joins other industry heavyweights in shedding jobs to cut costs

Eight workers dead in Indian munitions factory explosion

Seven others injured during incident at state-owned explosives plant

Red 3 dye banned in US food and drugs

Additive was already banned in US cosmetics and around the world

Dow

Dow to cut 1500 jobs as global chemicals industry reshapes

US firm joins other industry heavyweights in shedding jobs to cut costs

Two miniature figures in suits standing on jigsaw pieces

J&J’s Intra-Cellular deal could signal more mega-mergers for 2025

£15 billion deal for neuroscience biotech aims to replace revenues from patent expiries

Doliprane Paracetamol

Sanofi spins out its consumer healthcare business

US-based investment firm takes controlling stake in Opella, while France’s government moves to ensure the company remains in the country

Covestro

Adnoc to buy Covestro, continuing expansion into polymers

€15 billion deal sees Gulf oil producer looking to future growth beyond fuels

Materials analysis concept image from Anton Parr

Pass or fail: rapid polymer analysis with FTIR

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Sigma-Aldrich SynLED Parallel Photoreactor 2.0

Illuminating progress: recent advances in photoredox catalysis

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In this free download, shed some light on the latest developments in photoredox for drug development and materials science

Molecules on abstract background

Digital tools for deft materials development

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Discover how Microsoft can help you turn years of lab work into days of computation