CSL Behring Opens New Biotech Facility
CSL Limited announced the official opening of the CSL Behring Biotechnology Manufacturing Facility in Broadmeadows, Melbourne in Australia.
The new biotech facility is one of the most advanced as well as largest biotechnology manufacturing facilities of its kind in Australia. It is located adjacent to CSL Behring’s manufacturing plant for plasma products and will be a key support to the company’s global drug development business. CSL CEO and Managing Director Paul Perreault said, “This world-class facility… reflects our commitment to provide better treatment options for people who suffer from bleeding disorders and other life-threatening conditions. Outstanding Australian science was a key driver for CSL’s investment decision. It made sense to complement our excellent research capabilities here with the facilities to advance innovative science through to clinical trials.”
The new CSL facility will aid in the large-scale production of new recombinant therapies for international clinical trials. Recombinant therapies are altered versions of naturally occurring human proteins, optimized to improve therapies. CSL’s R&D pipeline includes recombinant therapies targeting a variety of rare and serious diseases, including inflammatory conditions, cancer, and bleeding disorders.
The first therapy in line to be produced at the new facility is a novel blood clotting factor (rVIIa-FP) for hemophilia. rVIIa-FP is one of the longer-acting clotting factors designed to reduce the number of injections for patients with bleeding disorders. Clinical trials of the treatment in patients are expected to launch later in 2014 in Australia, the U.S., and Europe.
Alain Weill, President of the World Federation of Hemophilia, said, “The ongoing development of new and improved therapies for hemophilia couldn’t be more important to the bleeding disorder community. It’s very heartening to see CSL working with governments in Australia to invest in new technologies and facilities that may benefit people with hemophilia all around the world.”
Co-investments from the Australian and Victorian governments supported the new facility, which is expected to quadruple Broadmeadows’ manufacturing and export potential in four years and open over 240 highly skilled jobs.