CSL Behring’s newly expanded facility has been granted approval by the FDA and will begin operations. The expansion significantly increases plasma processing and albumin production capacity at the Kankakee, IL facility. The new facility will use the same technology as CSL Behring’s manufacturing center of excellence in Bern, Switzerland, an important step towards a common fractionation process throughout the company’s global manufacturing network. 
 
The expansion aims to meet growing worldwide demand for its immunoglobulins and albumin. The intermediate produced in Kankakee is sent to CSL’s other manufacturing facilities where it is used to make therapies for the treatment of immune deficiencies, bleeding and other disorders.
 
CSL Behring’s executive vice president Global Operations and Planning, Mary Sontrop, said the expansion in Kankakee is part of CSL Behring’s multi-site expansion plan, which includes the expansion of its manufacturing facilities in Broadmeadows, Australia, Bern, Switzerland, and Marburg, Germany.
 
“CSL Behring is committed to serving patients with rare diseases in all corners of the world,” Ms. Sontrop said. “In today’s competitive market, we continually explore the latest technology that’s available, and evaluate how it can make our operations and physical plant more efficient to meet patients’ growing needs. Increasing Kankakee’s ability to fractionate plasma and produce albumin and intermediate paste is an important step for our global operations.”