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Innovation and Product Development news
(page 4)
21 April 2026
Statkraft completes Montes de Cierzo repowering with 98% waste recovery
44 ageing turbines replaced by 10 new units; capacity rises from 60 to 90 MW and output to 300 GWh/yr. 14.26 MW (28.51 MWh) batteries added. €5M local co-investment; full repower by 2027.
21 April 2026
LKAB advances Luleå critical‑minerals demonstration plant
Installation underway at demo facility; building complete, commissioning autumn. Malmberget pilot tests the chain. Tech will extract phosphorus and 17 REEs from iron‑ore residues; permits ongoing.
21 April 2026
Axens, IFPEN and JEPLAN validate industrial-scale textile-to-textile polyester recycling
Semi-industrial test processed tens of tons of post-consumer polyester textiles to produce BHET monomer, validating textile-to-textile chemical recycling and enabling circular polyester loops.
21 April 2026
BASF expands HALS and NOR HALS capacity
Boosts supply reliability to meet rising demand; NOR HALS improves UV, heat and chemical resistance for durable agricultural films, enabling multiseason use; AR forms reduce dust for safer handling.
21 April 2026
FDA accepts Roche sBLA for Gazyva/Gazyvaro in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
ALLEGORY phase III: SRI‑4 response 76.7% vs 53.5% (adj diff 23.1%), doubled remission rates, fewer flares and reduced steroid use. FDA decision expected by Dec 2026.
21 April 2026
China Petrochemical’s next-generation green intelligent aromatics technology achieves international leading status
New aromatics tech validated: p-xylene adsorbent, ethylbenzene‑conversion isomerization catalyst, SMB single‑tower separation, intelligent control; 25 patents; +50% low‑temp heat reuse, −27% energy/unit
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20 April 2026
FDA Accepts Genentech sBLA for Gazyva in SLE
FDA accepted sBLA for an anti‑CD20 in SLE after Phase III ALLEGORY: SRI‑4 responders 76.7% vs 53.5%, higher remission, fewer flares and steroid reduction; decision due Dec 2026.
20 April 2026
Topsoe to supply HydroFlex for Abundia's plastic-to-fuel facilities
Selected tech will convert plastic waste into drop-in diesel, sustainable aviation fuel and chemical feedstock at three North American plants (1,500 bpd each). Baytown FID end-2026; ops 2029.
20 April 2026
Elkem sells Saguenay biocarbon unit to CHAR Tech, secures 5‑year 62,500‑t supply
Sale transfers pilot/demo facility and proprietary pellet tech; site to be upgraded to 15,000 t/yr of pellets, converting raw biochar into biocarbon for ferrosilicon decarbonisation and smelter supply.
20 April 2026
Boehringer Ingelheim launches £150M AI accelerator in London’s Knowledge Quarter
Adds a new Computational Innovation centre to the global footprint, focusing on AI/ML for drug R&D to deepen disease biology and speed discovery; first 50 AI experts by end of 2027.
20 April 2026
PPG launches end-to-end data center protective coatings and application services
At Data Center World: demos of IEEE/UL‑compliant coating systems plus application and paint‑line design services; features EMI shielding, fire and corrosion protection, thermal reflectivity.
20 April 2026
PPG launches first U.S. PVC-NI coil coating for aluminum pet food cans
One-component PVC-NI coil-applied interior coating for aluminum DRD cans and easy-open ends; ready, cuts changeovers and waste, cures across lines, resists stains in wet pet food; brand-approved.
20 April 2026
Lilly to acquire Kelonia Therapeutics for in vivo CAR‑T platform
Buyer will acquire a clinical-stage in vivo CAR-T developer for up to $7B (incl. $3.25B upfront). Lead KLN-1010 (lentiviral anti-BCMA) showed promising Phase 1 ASH data; close expected H2 2026.
20 April 2026
Merck: FDA grants priority review for KEYTRUDA/KEYTRUDA QLEX with Padcev in cisplatin‑eligible MIBC
FDA granted priority review for two sBLAs after Phase 3 KEYNOTE‑B15 showed EFS and OS benefit; PDUFA Aug 17, 2026. If approved, first perioperative options for MIBC regardless of cisplatin eligibility.
20 April 2026
Novo Nordisk: Etavopivat meets phase‑3 HIBISCUS endpoints — reduces VOCs and increases haemoglobin in sickle cell disease
HIBISCUS phase‑3 (n=385, ≥12 yrs): etavopivat cut VOCs by 27% and delayed first VOC ~4 months; 48.7% had >1 g/dL Hb rise at 24 weeks vs 7.2% placebo. Well tolerated; filing H2 2026.
20 April 2026
PPG installs radiation-curing test line in Marly, France
New Marly R&D line tests IR, UV (LED, excimer, arc) and EB curing to replicate production, speed development, cut customer trials, and reduce energy use and VOCs.
20 April 2026
Asahi Kasei Acquires Aicuris to Expand Infectious-Disease Pharma Portfolio
Acquisition adds three antiviral assets - royalties from Prevymis, pritelivir (FDA Priority Review; PDUFA Q4 2026) and AIC468 - aims $500M revenue by 2030 and transplant/infectious-disease growth.
20 April 2026
Asahi Kasei launches Phase I trial of AK1940 for autoimmune diseases
Peptide-based TNFR1 antagonist discovered with PeptiDream showed activity in animal models; Japan trial began Apr 19 to evaluate PK, safety and tolerability of subcutaneous doses in healthy volunteers
20 April 2026
GSK's Blenrep approved in China for 2L+ relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
Approved with bortezomib+dexamethasone for adults after ≥1 prior line; DREAMM‑7: 3x PFS (36.6 vs 13.4m) and 42% lower death risk; outpatient ADC; ocular AEs manageable.
20 April 2026
Siemens launches Eigen Engineering Agent for autonomous industrial engineering
Moves industrial AI from assistance to autonomous execution—plans, codes, configures and validates systems. Pilots report 2–5× faster delivery, up to 50% efficiency gains and higher solution quality.
17 April 2026
EMA recommends Nobivac NXT HCPChFeLV, EU’s first self‑amplifying RNA cat vaccine
Protects cats vs five pathogens (herpes, calici, panleuk, FeLV, Chlamydia). Trials show adequate immunity, reduced disease/shedding; 1–3 yr protection; well tolerated.
17 April 2026
European Commission approves Merck’s ENFLONSIA for infant RSV prevention
Single 105 mg IM, non-weight-based dose gives ~5 months' RSV protection; trials showed ~60% fewer medically attended LRIs and ~84% fewer RSV hospitalizations; safety similar to placebo
17 April 2026
Siemens showcases industrial AI transforming manufacturing at Hannover Messe
Shows industry AI and digital twins: robotics, pop-up mini‑factory for CPG value chains, autonomous 3D‑printing with AI agents and robots, plus DC power‑grid tech for data centers
16 April 2026
Siemens tests Humanoid HMND 01 powered by NVIDIA physical AI
a wheeled humanoid robot was trialed in an electronics factory, autonomously moving totes, 60 moves/hour, >8h uptime, >90% pick success. Simulation-first AI cut prototype time from 18-24 to 7 months.
16 April 2026
Lilly ACHIEVE‑4 confirms Foundayo cardiovascular safety and cardiometabolic benefits
ACHIEVE-4: Foundayo non-inferior vs insulin glargine for MACE-4 (HR 0.84); improved A1C (-1.6 vs -1.0) and weight (-8.8% vs +1.7%) at 52 wks; 57% lower all-cause death; GI AEs; FDA filing planned.
16 April 2026
Evonik launches mesoporized isodewaxing catalysts for fuels and lubricants
Mesoporized isodewaxing catalysts (Zeopore tech) raise yields, improve cold-flow, cut cracking and light gases, lower CO2 and recover base oils; feedstock-agnostic.
16 April 2026
BioLamina secures €20m EIB financing to scale laminin-based cell therapies
Venture-debt financing backed by InvestEU will scale production of cell-culture substrates, expand tech and product range, enable animal-free drug testing and support therapies for chronic diseases.
15 April 2026
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank Invests in Infinium to Expand eFuels in Japan
Impact equity will fund scaling of electrofuels made from CO2 and green hydrogen, cutting GHGs >90% vs fossil and usable as drop-in SAF to help aviation decarbonize.
15 April 2026
Boehringer Ingelheim & Zai Lab launch DLL3‑targeting T‑cell engager + ADC trial in SCLC and NECs
Phase Ib/II testing obrixtamig (DLL3/CD3 T‑cell engager) plus zoci (zocilurtatug pelitecan, DLL3 ADC) in ES‑SCLC and other NECs to assess safety, tolerability and early clinical activity
15 April 2026
EIB lends €100m to Orion Pharma for oncology and pain R&D
Financing will support clinical trials, staff, patents and lab equipment, boosting clinical development capacity, supply security for critical medicines and EU biopharma competitiveness.
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