€150 million investment to triple Kedrion’s production capacity: Italy's “Plasma Valley” to treat rare diseases
The investment is designed to meet the growing global demand for plasma-derived therapies
The drive to contribute to Italy’s development and offer new treatment possibilities starts in the local territory. Kedrion announced an investment of approximately €150 million in the development of the production hub in Bolognana, in the province of Lucca (Italy), located a few kilometers from the main headquarters in Castelvecchio Pascoli.
The announcement was made on the occasion of the ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by, Valentino Valentini, Enterprises and Made in Italy Deputy Minister, as well as local and regional institutions and local parliamentarians.
The goal of the investment is to triple the production capacity of the site, from 1.1 million to 3.3 million liters of plasma processed each year, meeting the growing demand for Immunoglobulins worldwide. The expansion program, called the “Bolognana X3 Expansion Program”, involves the construction of a new building dedicated to plasma fractionation, optimizing an available area within the site and using €120 million of the total €150 million planned investment.
The remaining €30 million will be used to improve production efficiency and strengthen the link between the Bolognana hub and the nearby Castelvecchio Pascoli plant.
The project involves the participation of the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), which granted Kedrion a €14 million loan through a Development Agreement. These resources are primarily devoted to the expansion of the site and partly to research and industrial development activities.
The investment timeline calls for approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2028, with the full production regime by 2031.
To date, at the production site of Bolognana, where about 700 people are employed, all plasma processing phases are carried out and the Company’s main therapeutic specialties are produced, distributed in over 100 countries including the United States – which is currently Kedrion’s main market.
The investment will lead to an employment growth of around 300 new jobs, further strengthening Kedrion’s presence in the Lucca region, where the Company was founded and has operated for decades.
From an industrial point of view, the new building will combine advanced automation, digital monitoring systems and innovative processes, with the aim of improving efficiency, quality and control throughout the production chain.
On the sustainability front, the program is fully integrated into the Group’s decarbonization strategy, with energy recovery solutions, optimization of water consumption and innovative technologies such as the “cold” production of Water for Injection, significantly reducing the overall environmental impact.
The “Bolognana X3 Expansion Program’ is a decisive step for our Company to strengthening our ability to meet the growing global demand for Immunoglobulin and to offer new treatment opportunities to the largest number of patients worldwide,” said Ugo Di Francesco, CEO of Kedrion. “Our strategic investment consolidates Kedrion’s role as one of the main players in the industry and enhances our specific focus as a biopharmaceutical company on providing therapeutic solutions for people living with rare and ultra-rare diseases. We are particularly proud of this project, which projects Kedrion into the future, ensuring industrial sustainability in Italy and commitment to patients around the world in the long term. Finally, I would like to thank the Deputy Minister, recalling that we are among the companies that contribute to the growth of Italian exports worldwide, for which the pharmaceutical sector is the driving sector and the pinnacle of excellence.”
