Talecris Biotherapeutics Takes Baton from Bayer

04/01/2005

Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings Corp. (Research Triangle Park, N.C.), a new corporation that acquired the contributed assets of Bayer HealthCare, LLC, Biological Products Division’s (BP) plasma business, announced April 1 it is launching a worldwide therapeutic proteins business, Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc.

The transaction between Bayer and Talecris was completed March 31, with the new company becoming operational April 1. Private investment firms Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., New York, and Ampersand Ventures of Wellesley, Mass., provided the financial backing for Talecris.

In addition to the completion of the transaction with Bayer and the launch of its worldwide therapeutic proteins business, Talecris announced it has signed an agreement with Ampersand to acquire the plasma fractionation and contract manufacturing facilities of Precision Pharma Services, located in Melville, N.Y.

Driven by a bold vision to be the recognized global leader in developing and delivering premium protein therapies, Talecris is committed to growing and strengthening the previous Bayer plasma products and Precision Pharma businesses it has acquired. Talecris is well positioned to achieve this vision by continuing to offer innovative, market-leading products, such as Gamunex (Immune Globulin Intravenous [Human], 10%, Caprylate/Chromatography Purified) and Prolastin (Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor [Human]). Additionally, Talecris will continue to develop new products and services, serving the unmet needs of its current and future critical care patient communities.

Talecris Executive Chairman Larry Stern shared his excitement over the launch of the new company. “Talecris has a unique opportunity to expand and grow the long history of patient service and new product innovation, quality, and safety we inherited from Bayer. I am convinced that we have the best people, products, facilities, and management team in the business. When you combine the assets of Talecris and Precision Pharma with our focused, entrepreneurial approach to new product development, application of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, and marketing and customer services, I know we will be able to achieve our vision of global market leadership.”

The state-of-the-art production facility in Clayton, N.C., will continue to be Talecris’ primary manufacturing site. In addition, fractionation capacity will be significantly increased by the addition of Precision Pharma Services and its employees based in Melville, N.Y. Precision Pharma has a long-standing relationship with Bayer, providing fractionation services to produce intermediate product materials. Precision’s resources will provide increased business flexibility through complementary manufacturing capabilities and a growing contract services business. As a result, Talecris is well-positioned to meet future demands for its key products.

See www.talecris.com for more information.