Building a bridge to digital chemistry
It’s been a busy few months for digital chemistry company Chemify. The company aims to bring together chemistry, robotics and computing power to make it faster to design and manufacture new molecules for everything from drug discovery to new catalysts and advanced materials.
Interview: Research at the cutting edge of colloid science
Dr Gemma-Louise Davies, associate professor of nanomaterials at the University of Birmingham is the 2025 recipient of the McBain Medal. Davies’ research programme focuses on the design of colloidal materials, where she has made major contributions to the development of nanocomposites through an interdisciplinary approach.
US specialities see continued volume growth
US volumes of speciality and fine chemicals fell 0.1% in December 2025 to 3.56m t. This follows a 0.8% gain in November and a 0.7% drop in October, according to consultancy Swift Economics. Despite the fall, volumes were up 2.3% year-on-year, compared with December 2024, and 110.8%, compared with the 2017 average. By comparison, overall US production gained 0.4% in December 2025, a better-than-expected gain, representing 2.0% rise year-on-year and 102.3% of the 2017 average.
Bigger role for ECHA
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is taking on new responsibilities reinforcing its role in delivering coherent, predictable, and transparent chemical assessments under the EU’s One Substance, One Assessment (OSOA) package. Under OSOA, ECHA is entrusted with significant new tasks, reinforcing its role in delivering coherent, predictable, and transparent chemical assessments. These changes will enhance efficiency and improve consistency across EU chemical legislation.
EU pharma investment boost
A provisional agreement has been reached on revamping the European Union’s pharmaceutical policy framework in a bid to boost competitiveness, innovation and security of supply. The reform package revises the current EU rules, which are over 20 years old.
Research finds that human heart muscle cells regrow
Heart muscle cells can regrow after a heart attack, opening up the possibility of new regenerative treatments for cardiovascular disease, claim Australian researchers.
Sabic to sell European Petrochemicals and Engineering Thermoplastics businesses
The Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) has agreed to sell its European Petrochemicals business to Aequita and its Engineering Thermoplastics (ETP) business in the Americas and Europe to Mutares, for a total combined enterprise value of $950m.
EU moves forward on GM plants
EU Parliament and Council negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on the Commission’s proposal on new genomic techniques (NGTs) – techniques that alter the genetic material of an organism. The proposal is designed to make the EU food system more secure and sustainable through climate- and pest-resistant plants that give higher yields and require less fertilisers and pesticides.
Natural variation can thwart antibody therapies
Minor variations in people’s genes can render antibody therapies ineffective, according to researchers in Switzerland who investigated protein variants in or near locations where an antibody therapy interacts with its target.
AI and the art of the possible
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to facilitate radical change in everything, from fundamental research and application development, through to supply chains.