$352m plasma therapeutics plant coming to Qld

Plasma therapeutics company Aegros has announced it will build a new $352 million manufacturing facility in Queensland’s Greater Springfield region, thanks to support from the state government’s Invested in Queensland program.

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said Aegros, which is currently based in Sydney, will establish its global headquarters and a one-million-litre plasma fractionation facility in Springfield’s BioPark Australia precinct. Here, the company aims to use its advanced technology to develop and manufacture lifesaving plasma-derived medicines such as immunoglobulin, albumin, Factor VIII and Factor IX, which are currently made in only one place in Australia.

Plasma — the straw-coloured liquid component of blood — is a vital component to lifesaving medicines used in neurology, immunology, trauma surgery, haemophilia and related conditions. Around 3% of Australia’s population depends on these medicines for quality of life; however, Australia currently only meets around 50% of its annual needs from locally donated plasma — the rest is imported as part of a US$19 billion market that is frequently at risk from disruptions in supply.

The new facility, run on Aegros’ Australian-invented HaemaFrac technology, is set to lift Australia’s self-sufficiency in blood plasma medicines from around 50% to over 90%, securing a reliable supply of these medicines well into the future and reducing costs for the Queensland and Australian healthcare budgets. The plasma fractionation technology achieves this by almost doubling the yield of therapeutic products recovered from a litre of plasma, compared to existing fractionation technologies.

“We are excited HaemaFrac is going to be used to increase Australia’s ability to meet its own demand for plasma products, reduce the reliance on overseas supply chains, reduce costs for Australian patients and to develop and deliver fast responses whenever another pandemic arises,” said Aegros Founding Executive Chair Professor Hari Nair.

“With Aegros’ significant R&D capability, in collaboration with Queensland’s medical community and universities, we are looking to develop new plasma therapies to address diseases with unmet therapeutic needs.”

Springfield City Group Chairman Maha Sinnathamby said the new facility will be the first project delivered as part of the new BioPark Australia precinct, describing it as the ideal location due to the growing advanced bio-manufacturing industry, skilled workforce and strong local support.

“Dedicated to attracting industries across commercial, education, health, innovation technology and lifestyle sectors, we envision that other biomedical and innovative companies will soon join Aegros here in Greater Springfield,” Sinnathamby said.

Once Aegros has secured all necessary approvals and finance, the two-year construction will support an estimated 230 jobs before coming online in 2025. The company estimates that its facility will create 348 long-term jobs across its first four years of operation.

Image credit: iStock.com/Fly_dragonfly

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