Dublin, Ireland – 6 September 2018 – Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG) announces the acquisition of sanaplasma AG, a source plasma collection company headquartered in Switzerland. The acquisition of sanaplasma AG is expected to increase Shire’s access to plasma in the longer term and add to its European plasma collection network, complementing existing core capabilities in plasma supply and manufacturing.
Plasma is essential to the manufacture of immunoglobulin therapies that help treat patients living with certain rare immunological diseases. Immunology is Shire’s largest franchise, with 18% growth on a pro-forma basis in 2017 to $4.4 billion in product sales, primarily driven by increased global demand for subcutaneous and intravenous immunoglobulin brands. This acquisition is expected to support the growth of the Immunology business and help meet the needs of patients around the world.
Sue Brown, VP Global Operations for Shire BioLife Plasma Services, said:
“The acquisition of sanaplasma AG demonstrates Shire’s commitment to its rapidly growing and leading Immunology business. The combination of sanaplasma AG’s 14 plasma centres in the Czech Republic and Hungary with our more than 100 BioLife centres in the US and Austria will help us to meet the continuously growing demand for plasma-derived medicines.”
Dr. Martin Lukas, co-owner of sanaplasma AG said:
“I look forward to working with the team at Shire during the transition to help ensure continuity of supply, know-how transfer, and a smooth handover to position the business for future success as it continues to meet patient needs.”
sanaplasma AG is a privately-owned company focused on source plasma collection through its operation of 14 European plasmapheresis centres; 11 in the Czech Republic and three in Hungary.
About the Immunology Franchise
Shire’s immunology franchise has a strong legacy in developing therapies for people living with hereditary angioedema, primary and secondary immunodeficiency, and rare autoimmune and neurological conditions. We are committed to serial innovation, and our broad portfolio includes a number of therapy options that can be tailored to meet personal patient needs. Beyond our focus on developing novel treatments, we provide specialized services and support offerings that help meet the needs of our patients. Learn more at shire.com.
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About Shire
Shire is the global biotechnology leader serving patients with rare diseases and specialized conditions. We seek to push boundaries through discovering and delivering new possibilities for patient communities who often have few or no other champions. Relentlessly on the edge of what’s next, we are serial innovators with a diverse pipeline offering fresh thinking and new hope. Serving patients and partnering with healthcare communities in over 100 countries, we strive to be part of the entire patient journey to enable earlier diagnosis, raise standards of care, accelerate access to treatment, and support patients. Our diverse portfolio of therapeutic areas includes Immunology, Hematology, Genetic Diseases, Neuroscience, Internal Medicine, and Ophthalmics.
Championing patients is our call to action - it brings the opportunity - and responsibility - to change people’s lives.
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