Plasma, an essential resource that depends on everyone

Plasma is an essential resource for our health and the medications derived from it are indispensable. They are used in the treatment of immunological and hematological diseases, as well as other rare and chronic conditions, and also in certain injuries and trauma-related pathologies. They are, therefore, fundamental to the quality of life of many people. During International Plasma Awareness Week, raising awareness about the importance of this biological resource becomes more necessary than ever.

As explained by Eduardo Herrero, Executive Vice President of Industrial and Scientific Innovation in Biopharma at Grifols, "when we talk about plasma, we are also talking about the people living with complex diseases and the importance of continuing to advance in their knowledge and visibility."

According to a survey by Grifols, a world leader in the production of plasma-derived medicines, conducted by Kantar, 42% of the Spanish population does not know that essential medicines are obtained from plasma and 16% do not know what blood plasma is. Therefore, "greater awareness contributes to a better understanding of the challenges that thousands of patients and their families face every day," emphasizes Eduardo Herrero.

The importance of donating plasma

International Plasma Awareness Week is an opportunity to remember the importance of donating plasma. Plasma is the liquid part of the blood and represents approximately 55% of its volume. It contains essential proteins for the proper functioning of the organism, while the rest of the blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Plasmapheresis is the procedure that allows for the separation of plasma from the rest of the blood components in order to obtain it. Around 7% of plasma is plasma proteins, substances that perform essential functions in the organism and that allow for the development of treatments for many patients.

When the body does not produce enough, as happens with antibodies or the proteins that regulate blood coagulation, chronic, rare, and potentially serious diseases can appear. This is why plasma-derived medications are so important.

"What is often unknown is that behind a plasma donation there are patients who depend on it. From plasma, the immunoglobulins that many patients with immune defects need are obtained. This is why plasma donations are so important: without donors, these treatments would not be available," explains Dr. Pere Soler-Palacín, president of the BCN PID Foundation, dedicated to the care of pediatric patients with Primary Immunodeficiencies.

It must also be taken into account that the manufacturing process can exceed 12 months from the time of donation. Added to this is the fact that plasma is exclusively of human origin, which makes it an irreplaceable and essential resource to guarantee patients' access to treatments.

Hereditary, rare, and immunological diseases

More than 500 hereditary diseases affect the immune system and often require these treatments to prevent serious infections. They also play an important role for patients with hematological diseases and other chronic and rare diseases. Plasma proteins can also be essential in emergency situations. For example, albumin is used in patients in shock or with complications derived from cirrhosis; fibrinogen helps control bleeding, including during some operations, and antithrombin helps prevent or treat the formation of clots in people at high risk of suffering from them.

In many cases, these treatments have no alternative. And for many patients, they are not just occasional: they need them for years or even for their entire lives to keep the disease under control and to be able to continue leading an active life.

Population aging and increased longevity, together with improvements in the diagnosis of immunological and rare diseases, are driving the growing demand for these treatments. Added to this trend are the advancement of personalized therapies, new therapeutic indications, the expansion of access to treatments in countries with growing healthcare demand, and progress in genetic screening and artificial intelligence.

The rule of supply and demand

The demand for plasma medicines keeps growing. In Spain, the consumption of immunoglobulins has increased by 21% in just two years and has more than doubled since 2015. And it is not a problem exclusive to Spain. Europe also maintains a high dependency and it is estimated that approximately 37% of the plasma used comes from the United States.

More than 70% of the plasma needed to produce immunoglobulins therefore comes from abroad, and self-sufficiency stands at only 26%. To cover all demand with plasma collected in Spain, more than 1.5 million additional liters would be needed.

Increasing its availability could also have a significant economic impact. A study by the consultancy firm EY (Ernst & Young) and Grifols estimates that guaranteeing access to immunoglobulins for all patients who need them would allow for savings of more than 74 million euros annually for the National Health System, thanks to the reduction of hospitalizations, infections, and other avoidable complications.

Rare diseases affect between 3.5% and 5.9% of the world population, that is, between 263 and 446 million people. In Europe, between 6,000 and 8,000 rare diseases have been identified, while worldwide more than 10,800 are counted. Between 27 and 36 million Europeans live with one of these pathologies and, in Spain, there are nearly 3 million, and almost 80% have a genetic origin.

Behind these figures are millions of people who need faster diagnoses, more knowledge, and better access to treatments. And, for many, access to these treatments depends on a gesture as simple as donating plasma.