Sarah Houlton

Dr Sarah Houlton has a PhD in organic synthesis from Imperial College, and has been a science journalist specialising in chemistry-related topics since the early 1990s. Starting at the Journal of the Society of Dyers & Colourists, she then moved to the pharmaceutical industry magazine Manufacturing Chemist, ultimately becoming its editor. She has been freelance since 2001, and covers both science and business, with a particular interest in the pharma & biotech sector and the polyurethane industry, and the occasional foray into topics such as food ingredients and process engineering. She is based in Hertfordshire, UK.

Business
Cancer and rare diseases dominated 2019 drug approvals
2020-01-30T14:28:00
More streamlined review processes and changing R&D priorities have contributed to sustained increase in new medicines
Business
Pharmaceuticals roundup 2019
2019-12-12T09:27:00
Under the shadow of political turmoil and major lawsuits, the industry returned to its strengths – making new drugs, and finding new ways to do it better
Business
Sixth in a line of Alzheimer’s drugs fails in trials
2019-10-04T09:27:00
Treatments designed to stop amyloid peptide formation all seem to cause cognitive impairment rather than prevent it
Business
Landmark ruling in Oklahoma opioid lawsuit
2019-09-03T14:27:00
J&J judged responsible for ‘public nuisance’ in first case to go to trial
Business
Enhancing solvents' sustainability
2019-08-07T14:27:00
Increased recycling and replacing toxic solvents with greener alternatives will reduce environmental impact
Business
Curbing industry’s carbon emissions
2019-07-16T14:27:00
Replacing fossil-fuelled furnaces with renewable electrical heating and cutting carbon from some heavy industries could make a serious dent in climate targets
Business
AbbVie to acquire Allergan in multibillion-dollar merger
2019-06-27T16:34:00
Takeover deal will create world’s fifth-largest pharma company
Business
Emerging from the US opioid crisis
2019-05-14T14:27:00
With litigation against suppliers in full swing, how does the US counter its addiction to powerful painkillers?
Business
UK government sets out antimicrobial resistance plan
2019-01-28T15:24:00
Aims to cut antibiotic use and explore financial incentives for pharmaceutical companies
Business
Pharmaceuticals roundup 2018
2018-12-10T16:05:00
Merger deals, product approvals and infrastructure changes have been overshadowed by political uncertainty, in Europe and around the world
Business
Cancer immunotherapy spreads rapidly
2018-10-17T16:00:00
New approvals and expanded use for checkpoint inhibitor drugs illustrate the power of Nobel-winning science
Business
Cleaning up clinical trials
2018-10-04T09:48:00
Campaigns to enforce complete and correct reporting of trial data are beginning to take hold
Business
Europe opens gates to CAR-T
2018-09-04T09:30:00
First two modified T-Cell cancer therapies approved in the EU, but prices may be prohibitive for public health systems
Business
Gene therapy gathers pace
2018-06-19T08:30:00
Sarah Houlton charts the evolution, challenges and opportunities of cell and gene therapy
Business
Rural power champion
2018-05-21T08:29:00
Clementine Chambon is the 2018 Chemistry World Entrepreneur of the Year for her work using bioenergy to solve environmental, social and gender challenges in rural India
Business
Deal protects world’s biggest selling drug from biosimilar erosion
2018-04-18T13:20:00
AbbVie and Samsung Bioepis resolve patent litigation over arthritis drug Humira
Business
AkzoNobel sells off specialty chemicals arm in €10bn deal
2018-04-05T08:51:00
Private equity firm Carlyle sees off several other bidders
Business
Fit for repurpose
2018-03-23T14:21:00
Drugs that can be used for new indications offer a potentially cheaper pathway – but only if the investors can recoup their costs
Feature
Carolyn Bertozzi
2018-01-12T11:37:00
One-time heavy rocker Carolyn Bertozzi has made a name for herself with hit papers and sound science. Sarah Houlton charts her path to success
Business
Pharmaceuticals roundup 2017
2017-12-18T09:08:00
Political influence has strongly shaped industry activity in the past year

More by Sarah Houlton