Novozymes closes Chinese hyaluronic acid plant

07 January 2008 23:33  [Source: ICIS news]

NEW YORK (ICIS news)--Enzyme producer Novozymes has closed its China streptococcal-based hyraluronic acid (sHA) plant in Shandong province due to price erosion, the company said on Monday.

The plant was shut immediately, the company said in a statement.

The facility, which was originally acquired by Novozymes in early 2006, has 132 employees.

Novozymes said it will no longer produce or sell the product because of price erosion for sHA in the dietary supplement market as well as low growth outlook in technical markets.

The company will instead maintain its focus on bacillus-based hyaluronic acid (bHA).

Its proprietary HyaCare bHA technology is being used in cosmetics and eye care applications, according to Novozymes.

“We will maintain our focus on high-end bHA applications and Novozymes is currently collaborating with partners to explore applications in the delivery of anti-cancer drugs and in tissue engineering,” the company said.

By: Doris de Guzman
+1 713 525 2653

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