CSL Ltd Annual Report 2020

Supporting innovation through strategic partnership In February 2020, CSL Behring and the University City Science Center in Philadelphia awarded the first grants from the CSL Behring – Science Research Acceleration Initiative. As part of an ongoing strategic collaboration between CSL Behring and Philadelphia’s University City Science Center, researchers at academic and research institutions throughout the region were invited to submit proposals for projects with a focus on therapeutics that fit within CSL Behring’s areas of expertise. CSL Behring awarded Cecelia Yates, Ph.D., from the University of Pittsburgh, and Eleftherios (Terry) Papoutsakis, Ph.D., from the University of Delaware, US$250,000 each and an opportunity to work alongside the plasma-based biotech’s own experts in an effort to help transform their ideas into groundbreaking therapies to improve patients’ health. With CSL Behring’s support, Dr Yates’ group will test the ability of FibroKine™, a chemokine-based class of biomimetic peptides that are potential therapeutic agents for the targeted treatment of tissue fibrosis, to effectively treat and halt the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Dr Papoutsakis is exploring the use of cell derived micro-particles and vesicles (MkMPs) for the treatment of thrombocytopenias and in stem-cell targeted gene therapies. CSL Behring’s operational headquarters is located near Philadelphia in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, US. Support for biomedical communities To help advance scientific knowledge in areas of unmet patient need, CSL engages in direct collaborations with medical research institutes and universities. We also offer research grants to institutes, hospitals and patient organisations. Additionally, CSL funds investigator- initiated studies (IIS), projects undertaken by researchers outside CSL’s research and development (R&D) activities to better understand the potential use of its products to treat new indications or therapy areas. For an IIS, CSL does not have any role in the conduct of the study and does not claim exclusivity over research outcomes, but does provide support through the provision of product and/or financial grants. In 2019/20, there were 27 studies supported that spanned a multitude of areas including acquired bleeding, haemophilia A and B, von Willebrand disease, immunodeficiency, autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammatory, demyelinating polyneuropathy and hereditary angioedema. At CSL, we are committed to supporting established researchers and the researchers of tomorrow – the scientists whose discoveries will help patients lead longer, fuller lives. The CSL Centenary Fellowships are competitively selected, high-value grants available to mid-career Australians who wish to continue medical research in Australia. Two individual, five-year, A$1.25 million fellowships are awarded each year. The 2020 CSL Centenary Fellowships were awarded to Dr Kamala Thriemer fromMenzies School of Health Research and Associate Professor Daniel Thomas from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Dr Thriemer is using her Fellowship to develop and optimise treatment programs against vivax malaria in SE Asia and the Horn of Africa. Associate Professor Thomas is using his Fellowship to continue developing new ways to identify a cancer’s weakness and target it with personalised treatment. He’s already treating acute myeloid leukaemia patients in Adelaide. Seqirus supported the Global Initiative for Sharing of Influenza Data (GISAID) with a donation of €200,000 to support open and rapid sharing of genetic data for influenza viruses. CSL Limited Annual Report 2020 50 Our Communities 11