KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., April 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CSL Behring today commemorated 100 years of developing and delivering innovative therapies to treat people with life-threatening medical conditions and help them live full lives. To mark this centennial milestone locally, the company donated 100 trees to the Valley Forge National Historical Park and sent employee volunteers to help plant them. Valley Forge is part of the National Park Service, which also turns 100 this year. Globally, the company announced a $25 million R&D Fellowship program for early stage and translational research.

In 1916, the Australian government established CSL Behring's parent company, Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL), in Melbourne to ensure the people of Australia had their own supply of important medicines. Since then, CSL has grown into a global biotherapeutics leader with a unique combination of R&D focus, operational excellence and commercial strength.

"While much has changed at CSL since 1916, one thing has not: Our focus on patients," said Paul Perreault, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of CSL. "We have earned a reputation over the years as a passionate yet responsible organization driven by our promise to care for the people who rely on our innovative biotherapies. The future has never been brighter for our organization, our people and our patients."

Today, CSL provides life-saving biotherapies to people in more than 60 countries and is well positioned to continue delivering emerging innovations to patients around the world. This includes novel recombinant therapies to treat hemophilia; an investigational compound being studied in acute coronary syndrome to prevent early recurrent events following a heart attack; and exciting new advances in influenza vaccines. 

More than 500 people work at the CSL Behring operational headquarters in King of Prussia, PA. Globally, CSL employs 16,000 people driven by a deep passion and commitment to serve thousands of patients who depend on the company to live their lives to the fullest. CSL has eight manufacturing sites on three continents and operates one of the world's largest and most efficient plasma collection networks with more than 130 centers in the US. CSL's global R&D hub is based in Melbourne, Australia. The new flagship $25 million R&D Fellowship for early stage and translational research will be high-value awards available to outstanding researchers seeking to consolidate their career and undertake medical research in academic institutions based in Australia. Two five-year fellowships will be awarded each calendar year, for 10 years. 

CSL has a long history with influenza, starting with protecting Australians from the Spanish Flu during World War I. In August 2015, CSL completed the acquisition of Novartis' influenza vaccine business, and integrated it with its subsidiary, bioCSL, to create Seqirus, the second largest influenza vaccine business in the US$4 billion global industry with major manufacturing plants in the US, UK and Australia, a commercial presence in approximately 20 countries, a differentiated product portfolio and strong pandemic and pre-pandemic franchises.

About CSL Behring
CSL Behring is a global biotherapeutics leader which is driven by its promise to save lives. Focused on serving patients' needs by using the latest technologies, we develop and deliver innovative therapies that are used to treat coagulation disorders, primary immune deficiencies, hereditary angioedema, inherited respiratory disease, and neurological disorders. The company's products are also used in cardiac surgery, organ transplantation, burn treatment and to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn.

CSL Behring operates one of the world's largest plasma collection networks, CSL Plasma. The parent company, CSL Limited (ASX:CSL),headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, employs more than 16,000 people with operations in more than 30 countries. For more information visit www.cslbehring.com and follow us on www.Twitter.com/CSLBehring.

Contact:
Natalie de Vane
CSL Behring 
Office: 610-878-4468
Mobile: 610-999-8756
Natalie.deVane@cslbehring.com

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SOURCE CSL Behring

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