Texans Help Produce as well as Benefit from Lifesaving Therapies

ANNAPOLIS, MD—August 1, 2009—This month, Texans are recognized for their outstanding contributions to lifesaving therapies that treat critically ill individuals and for their donations of the blood component, plasma, in one of 48 specialized plasma collection centers in the state that make the creation of the unique therapies possible. In June, the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature recognized August 2009 as “Plasma Protein Therapies Month” in the Lone Star State, helping raise awareness of the rare, genetic diseases treated with the therapies and valuing the contributions of voluntary plasma donors across the state.

Plasma-derived therapies, which include recombinant blood clotting factors (a biotechnology product), are used every day to treat people with hemophilia, primary immunodeficiency diseases and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, also known as genetic emphysema. In addition, a plasma protein therapy is used in critical care settings, when treating severe trauma, burns and during major surgery. Plasma, a biological material, is used to create lifesaving therapies that come solely from committed plasma donors. The state of Texas is home to the most plasma donation centers in the nation. As Texas celebrates the generosity of its donors during Plasma Protein Therapies Month, we encourage everyone to donate and help to ensure a higher quality of life for patients across the United States and around the world.

“Always serious and often life threatening, patients requiring plasma protein therapies are in serious diseases and disorders and need assurances that they will continue to have access to their therapies and that the collection of high-quality plasma from dedicated donors, like those in Texas, continues to be valued and recognized as a crucial component in the production of these therapies,” Josh Penrod, Vice President, PPTA Source said.

PPTA is a trade association that represents the manufacturers of plasma-derived and recombinant analog therapies (collectively known as plasma protein therapies) and the collectors of source plasma. Nationwide, tens of thousands of individuals rely on these highly complex and specialized biologics treat rare, chronic, debilitating diseases and disorders for which there is no cure, and certain autoimmune and neurological disorders.

For more information about plasma protein therapies the diseases they treat and donating plasma, please go to www.donatingplasma.org or www.pptaglobal.org.



# # #

The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) is the trade association and standard setting organization for the world’s major producers of plasma derived and recombinant analog therapies (collectively, “plasma protein therapies”). These therapies are used by more than 1 million people worldwide each year to treat a variety of diseases and serious medical conditions. PPTA members produce over 80 percent of the plasma therapies for the United States market and more than 60 percent worldwide. Some of the critical therapies produced by PPTA members include: blood clotting factors for people with hemophilia, immune globulin intravenous used to prevent infections in people with immune deficiencies and other serious conditions, and alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor used to treat people with alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, also known as genetic emphysema.