Last month, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accepted a consent agreement outlining the merger of Grifols SA, of Barcelona, Spain, and Talecris Biotherapeutics, headquartered in Research Triangle Park, NC. The takeover, worth approximately $4 billion to Grifols, was conditional, based on the acquisition of Talecris’ Koate®-DVI, a human plasma-derived product, by Kedrion, an Italy-based biopharmaceutical company. Kedrion also acquired Talecris’ plasma fractionation facilities in Melville, NY, and plasma collection centers in Mobile, AL, and Winston-Salem, NC. These steps were taken by the FTC to preserve competition within the plasma product industry and manage healthcare costs for patients.
Kedrion recently established Kedrion Biopharma Inc. as a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary responsible for product marketing and distribution in the U.S. It will have exclusive rights to sell Koate®-DVI in the U.S. market and future products. Koate®-DVI is indicated for the treatment of classical hemophilia (hemophilia A) in which there is a demonstrated deficiency of activity of the plasma clotting factor, factor VIII.
Source: MedCity News, June 1, 2011 and Kedrion news release dated June 10, 2011
