- The 25,000-square-foot expansion increases production capacity at Elanco’s Elwood manufacturing facility by more than four times.
- Elanco has invested $120 million in the expansion and plans an additional $30 million through 2028, bringing the anticipated total investment to $150 million.
- The Kansas facility manufactures Befrena™ (tirnovetmab) for canine allergic and atopic dermatitis and Trutect™, Elanco’s monoclonal antibody therapy for canine parvovirus.
- Elanco said customer demand for Befrena has been twice its expectations and anticipates reaching unconstrained supply levels in early 2027.
- The project adds upstream and downstream processing equipment, a pilot plant, a quality control laboratory and additional support space.
- Planned investment through 2028 includes additional warehousing as Elanco expands its biologics manufacturing capabilities.
Elanco Animal Health has completed a 25,000-square-foot expansion of its manufacturing facility in Elwood, Kansas, as the company increases production capacity for monoclonal antibody therapies and prepares for additional biologics in its development pipeline.
The completed expansion represents a $120 million investment and increases production capacity at the site by more than four times through the addition of upstream and downstream processing equipment.
Elanco plans to invest another $30 million through 2028, including additional warehousing, which would bring its total investment associated with the expansion to $150 million.
Expansion supports Befrena and Trutect production
Two of Elanco’s canine monoclonal antibody products are currently manufactured at the Elwood facility.
The company recently began a phased launch of Befrena (tirnovetmab), an anti-IL-31 monoclonal antibody injection for the treatment of canine allergic and atopic dermatitis.
Elanco said customer demand for Befrena has been approximately twice its expectations. The company expects the additional manufacturing capacity to help it ramp production and anticipates reaching unconstrained supply levels in early 2027.
“With customer demand for Befrena two times above expectations, this expansion was key in ramping capacity to meet demand as we anticipate reaching unconstrained levels in early 2027,” Elanco President and CEO Jeff Simmons said in the announcement.
The Kansas site also manufactures Trutect, formerly known as Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody. The product received full approval in 2025 and, according to Elanco, is the first and only approved therapeutic solution for canine parvovirus.
New pilot plant supports future pipeline
Beyond commercial production capacity, the expansion adds infrastructure intended to support Elanco’s future biologics pipeline.
The investment includes a new pilot plant designed to accelerate process development and produce materials required for clinical testing, along with a new quality control laboratory and additional support spaces.
Elanco said the expanded facility positions the company to scale future antibody-based therapies as it applies advances in monoclonal antibody development to animal health.
“Today’s milestone reinforces Elanco’s commitment to going beyond to deliver differentiated, high impact innovation in key therapeutic areas,” said Dr. Ellen de Brabander, executive vice president of research, development and regulatory affairs. “With the expansion of our Elwood manufacturing site, we are now better positioned to scale the future of our innovation portfolio.”
Manufacturing investment responds to growing biologics demand
Elanco said the investment is intended to align its manufacturing capabilities with its research and development pipeline and growing veterinarian and pet owner demand for new therapies.
The company cited a survey of 1,409 U.S. pet owners conducted earlier this year indicating that pet health and wellness remain a spending priority despite rising costs in other areas. Elanco said the findings support its expectation of continued demand for innovative therapies, including monoclonal antibodies.
The expansion also adds jobs in the region, according to the company.
“When we announced the expansion two years ago, we recognized that executing the most exciting pipeline in Elanco’s history required a manufacturing footprint capable of matching our innovation ambition,” said Grace McArdle, executive vice president of manufacturing and quality.
Kansas City, Missouri-based Burns & McDonnell served as the primary provider of integrated design and construction services for the expansion.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
