Grifols, one of world’s top producers of plasma-derived medicines, has entered an agreement to acquire GC Pharma Group’s Montreal-based plasma fractionation facility and two purification facilities, along with 11 U.S.-based plasma collection centers for $460 million.

The transaction is part of Grifols’ global growth strategy to expand plasma collection and fractionation capacity to help ensure safe and secure access to life-saving plasma-derived medicines. This strategic acquisition will strengthen Grifols’ presence in Canada, building on a legacy of partnership in Canada’s blood system.

For more than three decades, Grifols has been a fractionator of Canadian plasma under contract manufacturing services, providing plasma-derived medicines for the Canadian market. This transaction furthers Grifols’ commitment to supporting domestic self-sufficiency and security of plasma-protein-product supply.

Once the facilities are fully licensed and approved, Grifols will become the only large-scale commercial manufacturer of plasma products in Canada, with a fractionation capacity of 1.5 million liters annually. Grifols plans to be ready to manufacture IVIG and Albumin in the facilities to supply the Canadian market starting in 2023.

As part of the transaction, Grifols has also committed to supplying certain output of plasma arising out of the Green Cross Collection Centers to GC Pharma (Group) for a 24-month period. The collection centers achieved a collection volume of 350,000 litres of plasma in 2019.