Process for buy out of Austrian plasma collection group
LFB Launches Process to buy out Austrian Plasma Collection Group to support its International Activity.
Les Ulis, June 22nd, 2010 – The LFB Group has invested massively in the past four years in both its French plants (Lille et Les Ulis) to double its production capacity and support growing demand for plasma-derived medicinal products. These are essential for the life and survival of millions of people worldwide suffering from serious and in some cases rare diseases.
Today the LFB group is mainly supplied with French plasma from Etablissement Français du Sang (EFS), with French hospitals having the priority for supplies of medicinal products derived from plasma from voluntary donations. This ethically-based system chiefly works thanks to the generosity of French blood donors, ensuring that French patients have a secure supply of labile blood products and plasma-derived medicinal products. For the French market’s requirements in terms of immunoglobulins in particular, EFS meets LFB BIOMEDICAMENTS’ (an LFB group subsidiary) growing need for plasma thanks to regular, widespread mobilization on this public health issue.
A plasma source to support the LFB group’s international activity
For its international development, the LFB group needs additional, lasting sources of plasma. It was therefore decided to buy a group comprised of Humanplasma GmbH, KMS Plasmaservice GmbH and SMK Plasmaholding GmbH, companies with the highest European standards of quality and safety in plasma collection. This group of companies, created in 1986, today has 165 employees at 7 collection centres in Austria and one in the Czech Republic for turnover of almost €20 million. The plasma collected by those companies cannot be considered as voluntarily and unpaid donated under French legislation as donors are compensated in accordance with local regulations. This plasma will not, therefore, be used to make medicinal products for the French market.
The closing of this operation is subject to various agreements being entered not by the two groups and the approval of Austrian and French administrative authorities.
About LFB:
LFB is a biopharmaceutical group that develops, manufactures and markets medicinal products for the treatment of serious and often rare diseases in several major therapeutic fields, namely Hemostasis, Immunology and Intensive Care. LFB Group is the leading manufacturer of plasma-derived medicinal products in France and 6th worldwide and is also among the leading European companies for the development of monoclonal antibodies and new-generation proteins based on biotechnologies. With its strong focus on research, the LFB Group is pursuing a growth strategy that seeks to extend its activities internationally and develop innovative therapies. In 2009, LFB invested euros 76 million in research & development, i.e. 20% of its euros 376 million turnover. LFB Group is chaired by Christian Béchon and employs 1,700 people.
Press Contacts:
Sandrine Charrières – Communications Director
Tel: +33 (0)1 69 82 72 80
Email: charrieres@lfb.fr