KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa.,
Oct. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- CSL
Behring today announced a multi-year, $450
million two-site global capacity expansion – the latest in a
series of recent production expansions to meet the growing need for
its lifesaving and life-improving therapies that are used to treat
patients with rare and serious medical disorders around the
world.
This expansion further strengthens CSL Behring's global
manufacturing capabilities with production capacity increases of
albumin at its Broadmeadows facility (Melbourne, Australia) and plasma intermediates
at its Kankakee site (Illinois, U.S.) The cross-functionality that
is enabled by the capacity expansions will allow CSL Behring to
leverage its global manufacturing network, helping to optimize the
manufacturing efficiencies of immunoglobulin and albumin. Of
the $450 million investment,
$240 million will be for Kankakee and $210
million for Broadmeadows.
"As a global science-based company with decades of experience
and insight, we are uniquely positioned to serve patients with rare
and serious diseases. Providing innovative treatments to save and
extend lives is an important part of our patient care, including
ensuring we have the capabilities and capacity to meet patients'
growing needs. Our latest production expansion means the critical
base material for our leading therapies will continue to be
available -- enabling us to deliver on our promise to patients
around the world," said Chief Executive Officer Paul Perreault.
CSL Behring applies its expertise in protein science to produce
lifesaving and live-improving therapies for patients with rare and
serious diseases around the world. This is accomplished through a
sophisticated interchange of plasma and plasma intermediates
produced at four integrated global sites in Kankakee, Broadmeadows, Bern (Switzerland), and Marburg (Germany.)
At Broadmeadows, the new facility will become an integral part
of CSL Behring's global supply chain and significantly expand its
albumin manufacturing capacity. Albumin is a plasma expander that
quickly makes up for blood loss in accident victims, and that is
also used to treat burn patients. About 200 jobs will be created
during construction in Broadmeadows, and 190 highly skilled
manufacturing jobs will be in place when the new facility is fully
operational. The new facility will comprise two manufacturing
modules. Construction of the first module will begin in the next
several weeks and will take about four years to complete.
Broadmeadows currently has 650 employees.
At Kankakee, the expansion will
substantially increase the production of plasma intermediates. CSL
Behring uses plasma intermediates to make albumin and also
immunoglobulins. The expansion is expected to be completed in 2017,
at which time 300,000 square feet will have been added to the
site.
Earlier this year, CSL Behring said it intended to build a
leading-edge recombinant production site in Lengnau, Switzerland where the company plans to produce
proteins to treat immune deficiency diseases. The company also
opened in May its state-of-the-art Biotechnology Manufacturing
Facility on the grounds of Broadmeadows. Today's announcement
follows the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's recent regulatory
approval to commence operations from a previous expansion of
Kankakee's manufacturing
operation, which added 140,000 square feet.
Note: View manufacturing footage
About CSL Behring
CSL Behring is a leader in the plasma protein therapeutics
industry. Committed to saving lives and improving the quality of
life for people with rare and serious diseases, the company
manufactures and markets a range of plasma-derived and recombinant
therapies worldwide. The company operates in nearly 30 countries
with approximately 13,000 employees.
CSL Behring therapies are used around the world to treat
coagulation disorders including hemophilia and von Willebrand
disease, primary immune deficiencies, hereditary angioedema and
inherited respiratory disease, and neurological disorders in
certain markets. The company's products are also used in cardiac
surgery, organ transplantation, burn treatment and to prevent
hemolytic diseases in the newborn.
CSL Behring operates one of the world's largest plasma
collection networks, CSL Plasma. CSL Behring is a global
biopharmaceutical company and a member of the CSL Group of
companies. The parent company, CSL Limited (ASX:CSL), is
headquartered in Melbourne,
Australia. For more information, visit
http://www.cslbehring.com/.
Media Contact:
Natalie de Vane, CSL
Behring
610-878-4468
Natalie.deVane@cslbehring.com
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SOURCE CSL Behring