Novozymes Will Close Hyaluronic Acid Plant

Novozymes is closing a plant in Shandong province, China, that produces hyaluronic acid via Streptococcus bacteria fermentation. The plant employs 132 people. Novozymes bought the plant in 2006 to complement its existing Bacillus-based production but subsequently encountered price erosion in the dietary supplement market and a low-growth outlook in the technical market. Novozymes says it will continue to develop its Bacillus products for high-end applications such as eye drops, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.