With worldwide headquarters in King of Prussia, PA, ZLB Behring (www.zlbbehring.com) is a leader in providing innovative and high-quality plasma-derived therapeutics to customers around the globe. The company’s plasma-derived and recombinant products are used in the treatment of individuals with hemophilia and other bleeding disorders, immune deficiency disorders and inherited emphysema, including rare conditions. These products are also used in the prevention of hemolytic diseases in newborns and treatment of cardiac surgery patients and shock and burn victims.

ZLB Behring has a long tradition in the field of plasma-derived therapeutics through its predecessor companies. ZLB Behring was formed in March 2004 when CSL Limited, a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, acquired King of Prussia based Aventis Behring. Those assets were in turn combined with ZLB Bioplasma, a plasma therapeutics company already owned by CSL, to create ZLB Behring. 

The company employs over 200 people in King of Prussia and over 2,800 people throughout the U.S. with a combined global workforce of 5,800 people.

Commitment to Innovation

ZLB Behring’s heritage is founded on over a century of pioneering work in plasma fractionation and serum technology. Among the company’s breakthrough advances are the production of the first pasteurized plasma protein solution, the launch of the first native intravenously applicable polyvalent immunoglobulin G product, and the introduction of the first virus inactivated (pasteurized) Factor VIII product.

Today, the development of the next generation of therapeutic proteins to meet the demands of the evolving market is a primary goal of ZLB Behring. Products under development include new immunoglobulin treatments including an innovative, subcutaneous immunoglobulin therapy anticipated to be available on the U.S. market later in 2005.  Immunoglobulins are used in the treatment of life-threatening conditions such as immune deficiency disorders, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, and pediatric AIDS and are also used in bone marrow transplants. The company also is performing research and development for other rare conditions.

Nothing is more important to ZLB Behring than the safety and quality of its products. Pioneering work in plasma purification and viral inactivation, together with new research and development initiatives, ensure the continuation of producing advanced medical therapies. ZLB Behring employs an expert team of virologists and quality assurance personnel to ensure the most advanced and appropriate processes are used.

Commitment to Patients

Building on its commitment to advancing plasma-derived and recombinant therapies, ZLB Behring has taken an innovative approach at developing a variety of support services specially targeted to address the needs of people with bleeding disorders, their families, and their healthcare providers. A recent example is the launch of the award-winning website All About Bleeding (www.allaboutbleeding.com). This website is a comprehensive resource dedicated to von Willebrand disease (VWD), a hereditary disorder characterized by abnormally slow clotting of the blood and often marked by spontaneous and prolonged bleeding from the nose and gums. VWD occurs in about one in 100 persons and affects both males and females.

The company also funds the ZLB Behring Foundation for Research and Advancement of Patient Health, the only non-profit foundation dedicated exclusively to charitable, scientific, and educational endeavors that benefit the bleeding disorders community. Guided by an independent Advisory Council, the ZLB Behring Foundation provides support to the healthcare professionals and community advocates who work tirelessly every day to advance the standard of care for people with bleeding disorders. Since its inception in 2001, the ZLB Behring Foundation has awarded approximately three million dollars in grants to the bleeding disorders community.

In addition to providing patients of bleeding disorders and their families with educational resources, ZLB Behring has developed a series of programs that promote physical activities in a safe environment. Through exercise, people with bleeding disorders stand to build stronger muscles and joints and improve their venous access. As part of its outreach, ZLB Behring created Gettin’ in the Game, which includes local events at which children and their families learn sports tips from professional athletes with hemophilia, participate in appropriate exercises and warm-up activities, and meet other children with bleeding disorders. To give children with hemophilia an opportunity to engage in sports, the company also co-sponsors the National Hemophilia Foundation-ZLB Behring Junior National Championship in baseball and golf. Approximately 1 in 8,000 males are affected by hemophilia, a genetic disorder marked by prolonged bleeding due to a decrease or absence of one of the coagulation factors needed to form blood clots.

Medical reimbursement and insurance coverage are increasing challenges for individuals who depend on many of these therapies.  ZLB Behring offers a reimbursement hotline and an array of resources, services and programs to assist patients and providers with reimbursement issues. ZLB Behring Assurance is a unique program designed to ensure that people who rely on eligible ZLB Behring recombinant and plasma-derived therapies can continue to receive these vital treatments even if they experience a lapse in third-party, private health insurance.  A lapse in insurance can happen with loss of employment, a change in dependent status, a change in insurance carrier, or when a lifetime maximum is exceeded. Enrollment in this program entitles members to earn Awards Certificates that are redeemable for specific products. ZLB Behring will continue to work with insurance companies, advocacy groups, and other biological companies to increase access to care.  

Commitment to Pennsylvania and the Future

As a Pennsylvania-based company, ZLB Behring is supportive of regional economic development and is committed to our local communities. In addition to membership in Pennsylvania Bio, ZLB Behring is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and participates in the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. “We are proud to be a growing part of the biotherapeutics community in this state,” said Peter Turner, President of ZLB Behring. “Our position spanning both recombinant and plasma-derived therapies gives us a unique perspective and opportunities.”

ZLB Behring also has a strong record of collaborating with leading institutions that are committed to advancing similar goals. A recent example of such collaboration is support for the establishment of the Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This center, the first of its kind in Pennsylvania and one of only seventeen worldwide, will provide enhanced options for doctors devoted to the diagnosis, testing and treatment of patients with a suspected primary immunodeficiency (PI).
PI afflicts approximately one in 500 Americans. People with PI have a genetic makeup in which the immune system’s ability to produce specific antibodies to fight off infection is greatly reduced or absent. PI is often misdiagnosed as common chronic childhood illnesses.  Studies show that children who are diagnosed early and receive proper treatment have an excellent prognosis for managing or even curing the disease.

Over the next three years, ZLB Behring has committed a total of $450,000 to the Jeffrey Modell Foundation to support three diagnostic centers similar to the one at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

ZLB Behring remains committed to providing the highest quality products and services. The company’s active approach to outreach and innovation highlights their unwavering support for the populations that depend on their products.