Octapharma, the largest privately owned and independent plasma fractionator in the world, has formally announced plans to establish its first-ever United States-based manufacturing and production site at the Palmetto Research Park in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The $1.5 billion project is expected to bring 1,500 full-time jobs to South Carolina, making it one of the largest private biomedical investments in the state’s history.
Once operations commence, the facility will produce critical, life-saving medicines from Octapharma’s portfolio of plasma-derived therapies, strengthening the domestic biomedical supply chain while complementing the company’s global manufacturing capabilities. The Rock Hill site will also produce bleeding management and trauma care products for national security and emergency preparedness needs. The announcement follows a thorough planning and zoning process coordinated with officials from Rock Hill and York County, alongside local, state, and federal leaders.
Rock Hill was selected for its proven infrastructure for advanced manufacturing, access to deep-water ports, and proximity to major logistics networks. South Carolina’s pipeline of biomedical and life sciences talent, supported by technical colleges and universities, is expected to provide the workforce needed to support the facility. Octapharma has built a significant US presence over the past 20 years through its commercial capabilities and extensive network of plasma donation centers, and the new site is intended to bring production of its FDA-approved therapies closer to both the plasma donated in the US and the patients who rely on them.
Octapharma is headquartered in Lachen, Switzerland, with more than 11,000 employees serving patients in 117 countries across Immunotherapy, Hematology, and Critical Care. The company operates 190 plasma donation centers across the United States and seven R&D sites and five manufacturing facilities in Europe. More details regarding a groundbreaking ceremony and construction timeline will be released at a later date.
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“We expect significant future growth, driven by our existing life-saving therapies and a strong pipeline of new products. Our manufacturing capacity must evolve to support this ambition, and our US manufacturing facility will be an important milestone. From a US national security perspective, having the ability to produce and supply our therapies domestically is invaluable.”
Wolfgang Marguerre, CEO and Chairman, Octapharma
“We have built a significant presence in the US over the last 20 years through our commercial capabilities, alongside our extensive network of plasma donation centres. As the demand in the US for our portfolio of products continues to grow, the new US manufacturing site will bring production of our FDA-approved therapies closer to both the plasma donated in the US, and to the patients who rely on them.”
Tobias Marguerre, Deputy Chairman, Octapharma
“Octapharma appreciates the good-faith work of every elected official and staff member in York County and Rock Hill who helped bring this to fruition. South Carolina’s talented workforce, strong life sciences ecosystem, and pro-business environment made it clear this was the right home for our first US manufacturing facility.”
Flemming Nielsen, President, Octapharma USA
