This Week in Chemical Engineering - Food, Pharmaceutical & Bioengineering Spotlight: August 26, 2019 | AIChE

This Week in Chemical Engineering - Food, Pharmaceutical & Bioengineering Spotlight: August 26, 2019

Don't miss out on the latest business and technology news for chemical engineers, featuring select items in relation to Food, Pharmaceuticals & Bioengineering!

Va. biotech Cavion acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals

Jazz Pharmaceuticals has acquired Cavion as part of its expansion plans in Philadelphia. The deal will mean an upfront payment of $52.5 million plus additional payments worth up to $260 million upon completion of specific regulatory and commercial milestones that were not disclosed.

NewEnergyBlue gains exclusive rights for bioconversion technology

NewEnergyBlue has purchased licensing rights in the Americas to Inbicon's bioconversion technology from developer Orsted in Denmark. NewEnergyBlue will begin building a refinery in North Dakota next year for the production of carbon-neutral automotive biofuel from wheat straw.

Novel compound may accelerate blood recovery after chemo

Researchers have developed a compound called DJ009, one of a hundred they created, to block protein tyrosine phosphatase-sigma in human stem cells, which quashes stem cell regeneration. Data from the study showed the compound accelerated blood stem cell and white blood cell recovery after mice underwent radiation therapy, according to the journal Nature Communications.

BIO CEO says presidential candidates should focus on hope, not fear

Jim Greenwood, BIO president and CEO, asks 2020 presidential candidates to take a different view of what it means to be part of the pharmaceutical industry by taking part in a bus tour of hope and not fear, referencing the recent bus trip made by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as part of his campaign. He wants candidates to understand the hard work and long hours spent by scientists, doctors and patients to create and test new treatments because "we cannot allow the political expediency of today to jeopardize the future cures and treatments patients are counting on," Greenwood writes.

Uni is the latest protein to get a plant-based alternative

Japanese processed food maker Fuji Oil Holdings has developed the first plant-based version of sea urchin, a sushi counter delicacy that commands a high price. The vegan version of uni is made with soy ingredients and vegetable oil.

Senator pushes FDA to do more about drug shortages

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, asked acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless what the agency is doing to ease ongoing drug shortages and questioned whether the FDA has access to the data it needs.

Simply Good Foods is buying Quest Nutrition

Simply Good Foods will acquire Quest Nutrition for $1 billion by the end of the year. The high-protein snacks produced by Quest will expand "our portfolio of brands and product offerings while also providing us with greater consumer and channel diversification," says Joseph Scalzo, CEO of Simply Good Foods, which sells Atkins-branded products.

Cargill to prepare for agriculture's future with new innovation center

Cargill will unveil an innovation lab at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign later in 2019. Students and graduates at the lab will work on projects designed to modernize agricultural supply chains.

Okanagan introduces biotech apples for food service industry use

Startup turns seafood shells into eco-friendly plastic wrap