Plasma-derived Therapies (PDTs): How Plasma Is Used to Treat Patients

Imagine the joy of giving someone a gift that they've always wanted, the anticipation as they unwrap it, and the happiness that spreads across their face. That moment of shared joy is unforgettable. Now, picture that same sense of fulfillment, but on a much larger scale, knowing that your gift has the power to help save lives. This is the essence of plasma donation. While you might not see the immediate impact of your contribution, rest assured that your plasma is making a significant difference in someone's life.

It's a powerful motivator, knowing that each donation can be the key to helping someone live a more normal life.

Your plasma donation enables the production of plasma-derived medications and treatments. Because plasma cannot be made in a laboratory, the production of plasma-derived medications relies heavily on healthy donors like you! Your body regenerates plasma quickly, so donors can donate up to twice in a 7-day period.

Plasma-derived therapies (PDTs) are medical treatments made from donated plasma. Plasma, the liquid part of blood, contains important proteins and antibodies that can be used to create medicines. These medicines are critical for people with certain rare, chronic, and complex diseases, for whom other treatments might not be available or effective.

Exploring the golden liquid of plasma reveals a collection of powerhouse proteins, each playing an important role in health and disease management. Immunoglobulins, clotting factors, albumin, and alpha-1 antitrypsin are among these vital components, each serving a unique purpose:

• Immunoglobulins act as the body's defenders, neutralizing harmful invaders like viruses and bacteria. For individuals with immune deficiencies, these proteins are essential for survival.
• Clotting Factors are the emergency responders for bleeding, extremely important for people with hemophilia to prevent dangerous bleeding episodes.
• Albumin regulates blood volume and pressure, which is essential in emergency and trauma situations to maintain the body's vital functions.
• Alpha-1 Antitrypsin protects the lungs from damage, offering a breath of life to those with genetic deficiencies affecting lung function.

Plasma-derived therapies (PDTs) are essential for managing conditions that, without these treatments, would lack effective medicines. Let’s look at how PDTs make a difference:

Bolstering Immune Defenses
Immune deficiency disorders happen when part of the body's immune system is missing or doesn't work properly. Imagine your body's defense system against germs like a castle's walls. In people with immune deficiencies, the walls are weak or have holes, so it's easier for invaders (like bacteria and viruses) to get in. Plasma-derived therapies, such as immunoglobulins, help strengthen these walls, giving the body the extra defense it needs to fight off infections.

Turning the Tide on Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder where the blood doesn't clot as it should. If you think of clotting as the body's way of patching up a leak in a dam, in hemophilia, the body either runs out of patching material or the material doesn't work right. This can lead to prolonged bleeding from even minor injuries. Therapies derived from plasma provide the clotting factors these individuals lack, helping their blood clot properly and reducing the risk of bleeding.

Emergency Relief
Sometimes, due to surgery, injury, or severe burns, people can lose a lot of blood quickly. Losing too much blood is like draining too much water from a pool; it can't function the way it should. Plasma-derived products, like albumin, can be used to replace lost blood volume. This helps maintain blood pressure and ensures that the body's cells continue to get the oxygen and nutrients they need.

Making Breathing Easier²
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency2 is a genetic condition where the body doesn't produce enough of a protein called alpha-1 antitrypsin, which protects the lungs from inflammation caused by infection or irritants like smoke. Without enough AAT, the lungs can get damaged over time, leading to breathing problems. Plasma-derived AAT therapies can supplement the body's AAT levels, helping to protect the lungs from damage.

Reducing Swelling
Hereditary Angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic condition that causes sudden and severe swelling in various parts of the body, including the hands, feet, face, and airway. Imagine suddenly blowing up a balloon inside your body; it can be painful and, if it happens in the throat, dangerous because it can block breathing. Plasma-derived therapies for HAE work to regulate the processes in the body that cause swelling, preventing attacks, or treating them when they occur.

Protecting the Nervous System
Plasma therapies play a crucial role in treating certain nervous system disorders, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own nerve cells. This can lead to inflammation and damage to the nerves, affecting their ability to transmit signals properly. Conditions like Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) and Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN) are examples where plasma-derived therapies are particularly beneficial.

FACT: Plasma and the therapies derived from it cannot be synthetically produced

They require human donors. This is why it's so important for healthy people to donate plasma often.

The Numbers Behind the Need

• 130 donations (approx.) to treat one patient with Primary Immune Deficiency for a year.
• 360 donations are needed for one CIDP patient per year.
• 900 donations per year are required for one patient with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
• To treat one patient with Hemophilia, 1,200 donations per year are necessary.

Plasma donations at BioLife facilities undergo meticulous processing into vital medicines by Takeda, BioLife’s parent company. These treatments are key in managing immune deficiencies, hemophilia, blood volume issues, and more, showcasing the transformative journey from donation to therapy.

Every plasma donor plays a crucial role in the narrative of someone's survival. The journey of plasma from donation to treatment summarizes a powerful story of hope, resilience, and the shared humanity that binds us all. It's a reminder that through acts of kindness, such as donating plasma, we can make a huge difference in the lives of those battling to stay healthy.

In conclusion, the next time you consider the impact of plasma donation, remember the wide range of conditions it addresses and the critical lifesaving treatments it provides. Your donation doesn't just give someone a better day; it gives them a chance at life. Let's continue to donate plasma and be part of a community that saves lives, one plasma donation at a time.