Elanco Animal Health said on Wednesday it completed a $120 million expansion of its monoclonal antibody manufacturing plant in Elwood, Kansas, nearly two years after announcing the project.
The 25,000-square-foot facility upgrade triples the site’s production capacity for antibody-based drugs, including Befrena (tirnovetmab), a monoclonal antibody injection for canine allergic and atopic dermatitis, and Trutect, a therapeutic for canine parvovirus that received full approval in 2025. The expansion adds upstream and downstream processing equipment, a pilot plant for process development, a quality control laboratory and additional support spaces.
Customer demand for Befrena has exceeded expectations by twofold, according to the company, which expects unconstrained production levels to be reached by early 2027. Elanco noted it is one of only two animal health companies currently offering monoclonal antibody solutions on the market.
The project was delivered on schedule by Burns & McDonnell, with an additional $30 million earmarked for warehouse expansion by 2028, bringing total planned investment to $150 million. Grace McArdle, Executive Vice President of Manufacturing and Quality, said the expansion supports execution of the company’s most promising pipeline in its history.
A separate survey of 1,409 U.S. pet owners conducted earlier this year found that pet health spending remains a priority despite broader inflationary pressures.
