Lipids are an unsung component in the two mRNA-based shots, the only vaccines to be approved so far in the US. Naked mRNA quickly degrades in the body and can trigger an unwanted immune reaction. To get the genetic material to its target cells, vaccine developers combine it with a mixture of several sophisticated lipids to form lipid nanoparticles, or LNPs. mRNA vaccine producers use a package of 4 lipids to formulate their LNPs:
| An ionizable cationic lipid that encapsulates the negatively charged mRNA |
| PEGylated lipid that helps control particle life and size |
| Distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC), a phospholipid that helps form the structure of the LNP |
| Cholesterol, which also contributes to structure |
While the biopharmaceutical companies struggle to respond to huge demand for their messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines, suppliers of the specialty lipids needed to deliver the vaccines are scrambling to keep up the demand.
Very few companies in the world supply these custom lipids in significant quantities and to the standards needed for vaccine production.
To meet the high demand for lipids, a key component of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics, Merck, a leading science and technology company with their decades of experience in developing and manufacturing high quality lipids, has launched their new SAFC® synthetic cholesterol – a high purity synthetic product to market nine months ahead of schedule.
This neutral lipid, used in commercially marketed products, is more than 99 per cent pure; offers high batch-to-batch consistency and is scalable under commercial Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). With the introduction of new SAFC synthetic cholesterol product, Merck has increased their capacity by 50 times, thereby augmenting biomanufacturers to bring life-saving therapies to patients.
As India is witnessing a rapid rise in the cases of Mucormycosis or black fungus, the demand for Liposomal Amphotericin B (LaMB) has surged. Lipids, one of the raw materials used to manufacture the LaMB, is in shortage. The demand for lipids has increased 10 times in past couple of months. The problem is further exacerbated as there are only limited manufacturers of the lipid globally. To meet this demand, Indian manufacturer’s specializing in Lecithins and Phospholipids too have now stepped up to increase its capacity for lipids by the end of 2021.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has amended the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Regulation, EU 64/2012, to add 27 pesticides and eight industrial chemicals into Annex I, bringing the total to 295. As a result, EU exporters are now required to notify their intentions to export them from 1 November onwards.
The global custom synthesis and manufacturing market was valued at US$271.33 billion in 2022. The market value is expected to reach US$474.94 billion by 2028.
The ocean freight industry is undergoing a massive transformation, as the technology and supply chain management tools are being improved by the day, impacting ocean freight rates.
In the second half of 2022, China unveiled the details of its data export regulations, providing further explanations to its existing laws and regulations on data.
The current energy crisis has reached an unsustainable level for the European chemical industry. For the first time ever, the EU imports more chemicals than it exports, both in volume and value, resulting in a trade deficit of € 5.6 bn for the first half of 2022.
Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (also referred to as hormone disruptors or EDCs) are synthetic chemicals that are not produced by the human body and that disrupt the normal functioning of humans and animals.
The shipping industry is now returning to normality and is in a downward spiral. The cost of shipping goods from China has slumped to the lowest level in more than two years as the world economy stumbles, dimming prospects for container carriers that turned in record profits during the pandemic.
No precipitous plunge in container shipping rates, just ‘orderly’ decline.
The global food and beverage market size is expected to grow from $5.8 trillion in 2021 to $6.4 trillion in 2022 at a growth rate of 9.7%. The food and beverage market size is expected to grow to $8.9 trillion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate of 8.7%.