Between Bolognana and Il Ciocco, in the province of Lucca, it was held today (14 October) an event dedicated to the biopharmaceutical sector and the journey of plasma with the crucial role of this precious raw material in the production of drugs for the treatment of rare diseases.
Kedrion, an Italian biopharmaceutical company leader in the development and global distribution of plasma-based therapies, has opened the doors of its production hub of Bolognanain the territory where it was founded, to show a delegation of national and regional political leaders and donor and patient associations, the complex and precious transformation cycle of plasma.
The event also constituted an opportunity to reiterate the company’s desire, today a multinational reality capable of competing in an increasingly competitive global market, to continue investing in the territory, remaining faithful to its roots as an Italian company.
“We were very pleased to welcome a large delegation of representatives from the institutions and from the world of patients and donors with whom we had the opportunity to dialogue and illustrate the new direction of the company – he declared Paolo Marcucci, chairman of Kedrion – Today Kedrion’s concrete commitment is confirmed in continuing to enhance the local communities and the territory in which the company was founded and where it has its headquarters, which remains the point of reference for the strategic choices of the entire Group global level”. “Our constant commitment to research and development of new therapies – he concluded – guides us towards a future of hope and progress, and collaboration between all the players in the system is fundamental to guarantee the necessary care for those who need it”.
“This day was an opportunity to reiterate that our objective is to strengthen Kedrion’s industrial presence in Italy and, therefore, to continue investing in the territory – he explained Ugo Di Francesco, CEO of Kedrion – We aim to enhance the fractionation capacity of the Bolognana plant with the ultimate aim of expanding patient access to plasma-derived drugs worldwide; we want to make Bolognana an increasingly cutting-edge hub in the research, development and production of plasma-derived drugs for the treatment of rare and ultra-rare diseases”.
Plasma, a fundamental raw material for the production of life-saving drugs, represents a unique and indispensable resource in the biopharmaceutical sector. Kedrion, with its consolidated experience in the treatment of serious and rare diseases such as coagulation disorders and immunodeficienciesstands as a global point of reference for innovation and research in the field of these therapies.
The new Kedrionthe result of the acquisition in 2022 by the private equity fund Permira and the integration with the English company Bpl, presents itself today as a global biopharmaceutical excellence increasingly focused on rare and ultra-rare diseases. With 7 manufacturing facilities in 5 countries, 76 plasma collection centers, with the majority in the United States and 5100 employees globally, the company is engaged in the distribution of 37 specialty pharmaceuticals in approximately 100 countries around the world.
Plasma processing represents a complex and crucial phase in the production process of plasma-derived drugs. Contrary to what happens with traditional drugs, plasma cannot be synthesized in the laboratory and requires a long manufacturing process ranging from 8 to 12 months.
This specificity of the biopharmaceutical sector underlines the importance of plasma donation and the value of a company like Kedrion in transforming this gift into vital therapies for patients suffering from rare diseases.
With plasma as a connection between the generosity of donors and patient care, Kedrion confirms itself as a beacon of hope in the fight against rare diseases, promoting an open and collaborative dialogue that puts people and communities at the center.
Among the institutional guests, they participated in the event the parliamentarians Elisa Montemagni, Riccardo Zucconi, Davide Faraone, Annarita Patriarca, the president of the Tuscany Region Eugenio Giani, the regional councilor Leonardo Marras (economy and tourism), the regional councilors Enrico Sostegni, Gianni Anselmi, Marco Stella, Valentina Mercanti, Mario Puppa and Massimiliano Baldini. Also present were the president of the Province of Lucca, Marcello Pierucci, and the mayors of Barga, Gallicano and Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Caterina Campani, Davide Saisi and Andrea Tagliasacchi.
The day also saw the involvement of Avis Nazionale, with the presence of the president Gianpietro Briolaand of Fratres Nazionale; finally, the President of Aip (Association for primitive immunodeficiencies) took part in the initiative, Alessandro Segato and, representing Eupati (Expert Patient Academy), Fabiana Ruggiero.
