Chem-wire Express Japan

24 February 2004 03:25  [Source: CWEJ]

Chem-wire Express Japan - edition of 23 February

Basic and Fine Chemicals

Tayca Corp has developed, and begun marketing, the world’s first infrared ray-reflecting titanium dioxide. The development was made by utilizing its inhouse-developed technology for controlling the size of nanometer particles. The new particles have a diameter of about 1000 nanometers, about three times larger than TiO2 particles used for pigments. The new product has heat insulation properties. (p. 1)

Sumitomo Bakelite will make Tsutsunaka Plastic Industry its consolidated company via a take-over bid. Sumitomo will obtain 9.94m shares to be issued by Tsutsunaka, which will increase Sumitomo’s equity share from 27.62% to 48.96%. (p. 1)

Dia-Nitrix has started a feasibility study for an acrylamide-polyacrylamide through-production project in China. The step is in line with the anticipated acrylamide demand expansion for use in paper sizing agents the company’s advantage of being a sole producer of cationic and polyacrylamide. (p. 2)

Vinyl Environmental Council chairman Masatoshi Takeda recently told the press that overseas demand was becoming very active, tightening the market to an extreme extent that may be called an “emergency state.” (p. 2)

The world’s top two synthetic alcohol makers have commenced marketing on a full scale in Japan. Shell Chemicals shifted in January sales of higher alcohols made by Mitsubishi Chemical, to which Shell licensed the manufacturing technology, to sales of its own products. Sasol has decided to expand the network of its stock points. They are aiming to cultivate a market for use in detergents. (p. 3)

Fujikura Kasei Co plans a substantial expansion of its plastic paints in China. It increased its two paint tuning plants in Shanghai to three, and will early next year strengthen its Shanghai liaison office and increase personnel there, to reorganize it into a corporation. (p. 4)

The Japan Paint Manufacturers Association reported that Japan’s solvent-based paint production in 2003 dipped 0.7% from the preceding year, but water-based paints, mainly aqueous resin-based paints, rose by 1.4%, indicating the shift to water-based paints. (p. 4)

Kansai Paint has teamed up with PPG Industry (US) in the car paint field, and begun talks on the details of the partnership. The two firms will coordinate marketing and sales activities, targeting Japanese capital-affiliated car makers in the EU and the US. (p. 4)

Takasago International Corp will try to increase the earnings its overseas operations. Two (US and Brazil) out of its eight major subsidiaries abroad are deficit-ridden, and the company intends have these units turn to profit within 2004. Takasago plans to reinforce operations in Asia, especially China, which it regards as a strategic area. (p. 5)

Shipments of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) are expanding steadily. According to the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry’s report, SAP shipments in 2003 amounted to 302 000 tonne, up 7.5% over the preceding year, surpassing 300 000 tonne for the first time. (p. 5)

Sanshiro Komiya, a professor at the science and engineering department of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, and others., have succeeded in developing a catalyst for efficiently synthesizing thiolactone from thiethane and carbon dioxide. The new catalyst, made by combining platinum and cobalt, is said to synthesize thiolactone, an important catalyst used for making various compounds, 100 times faster than conventional catalysts. (p. 7)

The second nanotechnology comprehensive symposium JAPAN NANO2004 will be held 15-17 March at the Tokyo Big Sight. The symposium is part of the nanotechnology comprehensive support project supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. (p. 7)

Toyoda Gosei Co has developed, together with Toyoda Central Research Institute and Toyota Motor, a new process for making thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) from scraps of EPDM, and is close to commercially applying it. The TPE obtained in this way is confirmed to have properties equivalent to those of olefin TPE available in the market. (p. 12)

Life Sciences and Health Care

Special Issue: Prevention of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). While every country in the world is taking actions, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), to prevent the infection of SARS, positive steps taken by Japanese businesses are attracting attention of the world community concerned. (p. 6)

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is working on a plan to start as from 1 April a new organization to be formed by integrating the ministry’s new-drug-evaluation-related organizations. It has been revealed that the new organization will have five sections to perform activities related to new drug evaluation. (p. 8)

Kaneka Corp and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical have reached an agreement on the licensing of Fujisawa’s tacrolimus immunosuppressant to Kaneka. Under the agreement, Kaneka will manufacture a coronary arterial stent coated with tacrolimus and sell it non-exclusively in the world marketplace. The stent is used for preventing restricture. (p. 8)

Takayuki Miyazawa, assistant professor at the veterinary department of Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, has recently identified a main receptor for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The study results were published in the 20 February issue of the US journal Science. (p. 8)

Daiichi Pharmaceutical said on 20 February that it has stopped the clinical development of its anti-infection agent DK-507k. Regarded as a promising post-Cravit item, DK-507k was licensed to Pfizer (US) last April. However, Daiichi was given notice by the US firm that it would give up clinical tests on the drug candidate because the early stage tests posed safety problems. Then Daiichi did stop the development as well. (p. 8)

Chugai Pharmaceutical is discussing a plan to produce in Japan anti-flu agent Tamiflu. This is in line with the request made by the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry for Chugai to produce Tamiflu because it is the only one agent specified by WHO as being effective against avian flu. (p. 8)

Kirin Brewery reported its consolidated pharmaceutical sales in 2003 stood at Yen57.5bn ($523m), up 16% over the preceding year, and operating profits, Yen11.7bn, up 2%. The large sales gain was attributed to a change in sales allotments of Kirin’s Espo EPO agent between Kirin and Sankyo to those in favor of Kirin. However, a 19% increase in R&D expenses curtailed the profits. (p. 8)

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly