NHS patients receive medicines manufactured by Octapharma using UK-donated plasma for the first time in almost 30 years

For immediate release. For trade and medical media only.

The sole manufacturer for the UK’s Plasma for Medicines (PfM) programme is supporting the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, and NHS Blood and Transplant to build resilience in the supply chain.

Octapharma today welcomes the news that, for the first time in almost 30 years, NHS patients are receiving medicines made from UK-donated plasma. The plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs) immunoglobulins and albumin are relied on every day by thousands of UK patients with chronic diseases, immune deficiencies and are also used in emergencies for the critically ill following trauma, burns or surgery.^1,2,3,4

The announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) - supported by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and NHS England (NHSE) - that the medicines manufactured by Octapharma have reached patients, is a major milestone for the company and the Plasma for Medicines (PfM) programme.

In 2023, NHS England appointed Octapharma the sole manufacturer for the PfM programme and it is providing immunoglobulins and albumin made from UK-donated plasma to the NHS until at least 2030.⁵ While Octapharma has been supplying the NHS with medicines made from imported plasma for decades, this is the first time it has manufactured medicines made from UK plasma donations.

Clare Worden, General Manager, Octapharma UK, said: “We’re incredibly proud of all the accomplishments achieved through this unique collaboration with the NHS and blood collection services since we were appointed sole manufacturer. Bringing this programme to fruition is testament to our collective dedication, expertise and teamwork.

“This landmark joint initiative is building a more resilient supply chain for patients nationwide, reducing the country’s reliance on medicines made using imported plasma.”

Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director NHS England, said: “This landmark moment ensures patients relying on crucial plasma-derived medicines will always have access to the treatment they need.

“Thanks to NHS efforts, new plasma-derived products, owned from start to finish by the UK, will reduce our reliance on imported stock and boost the fortitude of hospital supplies.

“Thousands of people with serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, including immunodeficiencies and neurological conditions rely on these products, and strengthening the supply chain of plasma-derived treatments through UK donations will help NHS clinicians ensure these vital medicines are available for all who need them.”

Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, NHS patients are now receiving medicines made from UK plasma for the first time in a generation.

“Plasma makes up 55 per cent of our blood and contains antibodies which strengthen or stabilise the immune system. It is used to save lives during childbirth and trauma and is used to treat thousands of patients with life limiting illnesses such as immune deficiencies.”

Using UK plasma to make immunoglobulins and albumin was banned in 1998 as a safety precaution to prevent the potential transmission of the rare but fatal brain condition variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD).^6,7

Since then, UK patients have received these medicines manufactured using imported plasma, mainly from the US.⁷ Global demand for immunoglobulins has continued to rise, fuelled by increased clinical need. This surge, combined with a decrease in plasma donations required for their production, has caused supply chain pressures which only intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic.^7,8

In 2021, following a comprehensive review, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and independent Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) confirmed that UK plasma could once again be used to produce immunoglobulins.⁹ The ban on using UK plasma to produce albumin was lifted in 2023.⁴

Octapharma is one of the largest human protein manufacturers in the world. Its portfolio of medicines has helped millions of people globally with chronic diseases such as haemophilia, immune deficiencies and autoimmune disorders, and critically ill trauma, burns and emergency surgery patients.¹⁰

For more information, please contact:

Laura Gibson, The Difference Collective

Email: laura.gibson@thedifferencecollective.com

Mobile: 07771 933609

About Octapharma

Headquartered in Lachen, Switzerland, Octapharma is one of the largest human protein manufacturers in the world, developing and producing human proteins from human plasma and human cell lines.

Octapharma employs more than 11,000 people worldwide to support the treatment of patients in 120 countries with products across three therapeutic areas: Immunotherapy, Haematology and Critical Care.

Octapharma has seven R&D sites and five state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Austria, France, Germany and Sweden, and operates more than 195 plasma donation centres across Europe and the US.

References

^{1. Hartmann J, Klein HG. Supply and demand for plasma-derived medicinal products - A critical reassessment amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Transfusion. 2020;60:2748-2752. https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.16078}

^{2. Octapharma. The production process. https://www.octapharma.co.uk/Research-and-Development/production-process}

^{3. MDSAS. NHS Immunoglobulin Database. Annual Report 2022/23. Published February 2024. https://igd.mdsas.com/wp-content/uploads/Igd_AnnualReport_202223-1.pdf}

^{4. Gov.uk. Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Commission on Human Medicines. Use of UK plasma for the manufacture of albumins and vCJD risk. Published 15 August 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-of-uk-plasma-for-the-manufacture-of-albumins-and-vcjd-risk/use-of-uk-plasma-for-the-manufacture-of-albumins-and-vcjd-risk}

^{5. Statement on the UK Plasma for Medicines Programme. Update 21.08.2024. https://www.immunodeficiencyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Statement-on-the-UK-Plasma-for-Medicines-Programme.pdf}

^{6. Warden, J. UK Blood products are banned. BMJ. 1998;316:723. Published 7 March 1998. doi: 10.1136/bmj.316.7133.723g.}

^{7. Gov.uk. Department of Health and Social Care. Ban lifted to allow UK blood plasma to be used for life-saving treatments. Published 25 February 2021. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ban-lifted-to-allow-uk-blood-plasma-to-be-used-for-life-saving-treatments}

^{8. UK Blood Services Forum. UK Plasma for Fractionation. Review of Safety Profile 2022. https://www.transfusionguidelines.org/document-library/documents/position-paper-on-uk-plasma-uk-forum-2022/download-file/Position%20paper%20on%20UK%20plasma%20-%20UK%20Forum%202022.pdf}

^{9. Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Use of UK plasma for the manufacture of immunoglobulins and vCJD risk. Critical Risk Assessment Report. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/607eba288fa8f51b8f716c36/Use_of_UK_plasma_for_the_manufacture_of_immunoglobulins_and_vCJD_risk.pdf}

^{10. Octapharma. Data on file.}