According to the company, the 113,000 square-foot manufacturing facility provides a high degree of accuracy in the manufacturing operation. This supports product safety and operational efficiency as production volumes are increased to meet patient needs.
Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor is an anti-inflammatory protein that protects the tissue of the body. One of its most important roles is to shield the delicate tissues of the lungs by binding to neutrophil elastase, an enzyme released by certain white blood cells that digests bacteria and other foreign substances in the lungs.
When a person who is deficient in alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor inhales irritants or contracts a lung infection, the neutrophil elastase released to protect the lungs can continue on to injure healthy lung tissue.
Symptoms of alpha-1 include shortness of breath on exertion, wheezing, and coughing. Because wheezing and shortness of breath are common symptoms, alpha-1 is often misdiagnosed as other chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.
“We are proud to reinforce our commitment to patients through the opening of this new facility, which will enable us to triple our production of Zemaira,” said Randy Furby, senior vice president and general manager of the Kankakee plant. “We will continue to explore opportunities to expand our production capabilities to meet the needs of those with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.”