Brussels, Belgium (December 17) The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) regrets that the publication of the European Commission report, “Study on medicine shortages,” does not include plasma, which is a biological starting material for the manufacture of lifesaving plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs). PDMP availability is primarily dependent on volumes of plasma collected, which are currently insufficient to meet the needs of EU patients.

Brussels, November 24 — The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) congratulates MEP Montserrat (EPP, Spain) for the adoption of the report “EU Pharmaceutical Strategy” during the European Parliament’s Plenary session. The report was adopted by 527 MEPs on Wednesday 24 November.

Brussels, (October 4, 2021) — The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) is marking the 9th annual International Plasma Awareness Week (IPAW), October 4-8, by increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of plasma, particularly the urgent need to increase plasma donations in the European Union, while also recognizing and thanking plasma donors who save and improve the lives of patients who rely on plasma for their therapies. Considering the revision of the European blood and tissues and cells legislation, PPTA calls on policymakers and regulators throughout Europe to strengthen its legal framework to benefit plasma donations for plasma-derived medicines and encourage new approaches that increase the collection of plasma across the European Union.

ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 4, 2021) — The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) is proud to mark the launch of the ninth annual International Plasma Awareness Week (IPAW), which will run from Monday, October 4 until Friday, October 8. Nearly 125,000 people in the U.S. with rare diseases, and countless others facing trauma and emergency medical needs every day, rely on medicines that are only available because of the commitment of dedicated plasma donors. Considering the nearly 20% decline in plasma donations seen last year due to the ongoing pandemic, the need for plasma donors is now more urgent than ever before. 

June 14, 2021 (Brussels, Belgium) – The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) is proud to mark World Blood Donor Day. This day is an opportunity to specifically thank plasma donors, as well as blood donors, and recognize their shared commitment and contributions to saving and improving the lives of patients in Europe.

February 25, 2021 (Annapolis, MD) - The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) welcomes the decision of the UK government to lift a two decades old ban on the use of UK-donated plasma for the manufacture of immunoglobulins, following a scientific review conducted by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The ban was imposed in 1998 to mitigate the spread of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD), but experts have now concluded that the use of UK-sourced plasma to manufacture immunoglobulins is safe and can recommence, supported by a set of robust safety measures.

Representatives of patient advocacy groups, expert physicians, thought leaders, and representatives from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research came together on December 9 at a roundtable sponsored by the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) to discuss the impacts on people with rare diseases if not enough plasma is available to manufacture lifesaving plasma-derived therapies. These therapies are often the only treatments available for people with primary immune deficiencies, bleeding disorders, Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency, hereditary angioedema, and certain neurological conditions.

The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) welcomes the European Commission’s publication of the Inception Impact Assessment (IIA) as a necessary step in the ongoing evaluation of the EU legislation on blood, tissues, and cells (BTC). Rightfully, the assessment underlines the need for timely action to decrease Europe’s reliance on third countries for plasma. We appeal to authorities to urgently take the necessary steps to collect more plasma through plasmapheresis in Europe As highlighted by the European Commission, plasmapheresis is a more efficient collection method compared to the collection of recovered plasma.¹

ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 5, 2020) — The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) is proud to mark the launch of the eighth annual International Plasma Awareness Week (IPAW), which will run until October 9.

The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) welcomes EU Health Commissioner Kyriakides’ recognition of the importance of plasma donation in her observance yesterday of World Blood Donor Day. By noting plasma’s role in the manufacture of plasma-derived medicinal therapies (PDMPs) for people with a range of life-challenging diseases, as well as its potential role in treating people with COVID-19, Commissioner Kyriakides rightly notes that “donating plasma is therefore now more important than ever.”