CSL Behring To Build High-Speed Syringe Fill Line at its Kankakee (Il) Facility

CSL Behring today announced plans to invest $15 million to expand its manufacturing facility here by adding a high-speed, single-dose syringe filling line. Plans call for the line to be operational in 2010, when the company intends to contract with its sister company, CSL Biotherapies, to provide filling and packaging services for seasonal influenza vaccine. CSL Biotherapies anticipates introducing its influenza vaccine to the U.S. beginning with the 2007/08 season. CSL Biotherapies has filed a Biologics License Application (BLA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The BLA requests that the vaccine be approved to immunize people 18 years of age and older. The approved vaccine will be made available in single-dose, thimerosal-free, pre-filled syringes and in multi-dose vials, providing choice and convenience to caregivers who administer it. CSL Limited, the parent company of both CSL Behring and CSL Biotherapies, previously announced plans to invest $60 million in plant and equipment to double flu manufacturing capacity at its Melbourne, Australia facility. "This additional $15 million investment underscores our continuing commitment to the Kankakee site,” said Randy Furby, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the facility. "CSL has made a major, long-term commitment to the U.S. vaccine market, and this building plan represents a key part of our overall business strategy.” The Kankakee facility currently employs 600 people. About CSL Behring CSL Behring is a global leader in the plasma protein biotherapeutics industry. Passionate about saving and improving the quality of patients' lives, CSL Behring manufactures and markets a range of safe and effective plasma-derived and recombinant products and related services. The company's therapies are used in the treatment of rare diseases such as immune deficiency disorders, hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, other bleeding disorders and inherited emphysema. Other products are used for the prevention of hemolytic diseases in the newborn, in cardiac surgery, organ transplantation and in the treatment of burns. The company also operates one of the world's largest plasma collection networks, ZLB Plasma. CSL Behring is a subsidiary of CSL Limited, a biopharmaceutical company with headquarters in Melbourne, Australia. For more information, visit www.cslbehring.com. About CSL Biotherapies The U.S. headquarters of CSL Biotherapies is located in King of Prussia, Pa. Its parent company, CSL Limited, operates one of the world’s largest influenza vaccine facilities for global markets in Melbourne, Australia. CSL Biotherapies is commercializing influenza vaccine products globally. At CSL Biotherapies, delivering vaccines is our mission, protecting lives our passion. The CSL Group, which also includes CSL Research & Development, CSL Bioplasma and CSL Behring, has more than 8,500 employees in 21 countries worldwide. For more information, visit us at www.cslbiotherapies-us.com. CSL Behring is a company of CSL Limited.