Kedrion has announced the acquisition of Czech companies UNICAplasma s.r.o and UNICAplasma Morava s.r.o., which operate five plasma collection centers in the Czech Republic.
The centres, which have an annual collection capacity of approximately 70,000 liters and employ 83 people, are managed throughout the entire territory of the Czech Republic under two different brands: UNICAplasma in Prague and Mojeplazma in Kladno, Ostrava, Frýdek-Místek and Český Těšín.
«We believe that this acquisition will greatly enhance the value of our company – stated Paolo Marcucci, Kedrion Chairman and CEO – allowing us to become a player in the collection of plasma in Europe. Through this operation we will be able to secure an increasing amount of high quality plasma for our production plants, this unique and special raw material for the production of crucial plasma-derived products to prevent and treat rare and debilitating conditions».
«We are very proud to add these new companies to the Kedrion group – added Paolo Marcucci – and we welcome all new employees into our corporate family. A special welcome also goes to donors: their contribution is vital in helping to provide life-improving and life-saving therapies to the growing number of patients that we serve around the world».
The centers will continue to be managed by Milan Maly, one of the pioneers in the industry in the Czech Republic (the center in Prague began operations in 2008). Mr. Maly is also the founder and the chairperson of the Czech Association of Plasma and chairman of the European Plasma Alliance (EPA), the European plasma collectors association.
All five centers are IQPP certified. IQPP is the PPTA certification that provides independent, third-party evaluation and recognition of a center’s adherence to global industry standards for source plasma.