Business Roundup

Shin-Etsu Chemical plans to spend $21.3 million to expand silicones production at a plant in Akron, Ohio. After the expansion, to be completed in 2019, the plant will cover 4,100 m².

W.R. Grace & Co. has acquired exclusive rights to patents for ordered-mesoporous-silica-based technology from Formac Pharmaceuticals. The technology, which the two jointly developed, is used to enhance the oral bioavailability of drug actives.

C² Pharma, formerly known as Centroflora CMS, has acquired ASM Research Chemicals, a German synthesis services company with 13 employees, seven of whom are Ph.D. chemists. C² Pharma, based in Luxembourg, has also spun off a cold-chain logistics company, Logistics4Pharma.

DuPont Pioneer will partner with CasZyme, a Lithuanian start-up, to identify and characterize novel CRISPR/Cas nucleases that can be used in gene editing. Pioneer will provide its large Cas nuclease library. CasZyme will characterize the nucleases.

Takeda Pharmaceutical is teaming up with Charlottesville, Va.-based HemoShear Therapeutics to develop treatments for liver diseases including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The pact includes up-front funds and up to $470 million in milestone payments to Hemoshear.

Gemini Therapeutics has launched with $42.5 million in series A funding from Atlas Venture, Lightstone Ventures, and OrbiMed. Gemini will develop monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, and gene therapy treatments for dry age-related macular degeneration.