New centers will open in Southern California to support an urgent need for plasma donations used to develop therapies for people with a variety of rare diseases
MORENO VALLEY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–BioLife Plasma Services, part of the global biopharmaceutical company Takeda, today announced the opening of a new plasma center in Moreno Valley, CA, to help meet the urgent need for plasma donations which has become even greater during the pandemic. Plasma donations received at BioLife centers are used by Takeda to make established therapies that treat a range of rare and complex conditions for which there is often no alternative treatment. This is the first BioLife center to open in California, with the next centers opening in Rialto, Corona and Riverside.
“Our expansion into California is part of BioLife’s mission as a leader in plasma donation to grow our network and address an urgent need for life-saving plasma used to develop therapies for people around the world,” said Hema Tallman, Global Head of BioLife Operations. “Plasma-based therapies are a lifeline for thousands of people with rare, chronic and complex diseases, and donors in Southern California now have a unique opportunity to make a difference in their communities through plasma donation.”
The Southern California centers, led by the opening in Moreno Valley, join a growing network of more than 140 state-of-the-art plasma donation centers in the U.S., recognized for their world-class donation safety standards. As the demand for plasma-based therapies increases, BioLife is expanding to help meet the resulting need for plasma donations. The centers will contribute approximately $2-3 million annually to each local community through donor compensation and bring up to 70 new jobs per center. BioLife is evaluating additional California locations to continue its expansion in the state.
“With plasma donations lower than usual throughout the pandemic and demand for plasma-derived therapies growing across the nation, the need for plasma is more urgent than ever,” said John Boyle, President & CEO of the Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF). “Plasma cannot be produced in a lab, so people like me who rely on these therapies are dependent on people regularly donating. We encourage Southern Californians to donate at one of the new BioLife centers in their community and help those who need it most.”
During each donation, plasma is separated from the blood and the blood elements are returned back into the donor’s body, through a simple, low-risk process called plasmapheresis. Screened plasma collected from healthy individuals is processed into a wide variety of therapies for people around the world with rare, life-threatening diseases, such as immunodeficiency disorders, hemophilia and hereditary angioedema.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BioLife Plasma Services has implemented additional screening and safety measures in line with public health guidance to help guarantee the safety and health of donors and employees, as well as the safety of the collected plasma. All donors will need to wear a mask inside a BioLife Plasma center.
Prospective donors can make online appointments to visit the Moreno Valley center (23727 Sunnymead Blvd., Moreno Valley, CA 92553), which opens on Saturday, February 27. They must pass a physical examination at their first visit and are screened at each visit to ensure they meet eligibility criteria. All donors are compensated for their time and commitment.
To learn more about BioLife Plasma Services, the donation process, and to schedule an appointment, please visit the BioLife website.
About Plasma
Plasma is the clear, straw-colored liquid portion of blood that can be easily replaced by the body. Plasma makes up more than half of whole blood and consists primarily of water and proteins. During plasma donation, a donor’s blood is collected into an automated device that separates the plasma from the other whole blood components, including red and white blood cells and platelets. While the plasma is collected, the other blood components are returned to the donor. Each donation procedure uses sterile and disposable collection materials. The body quickly replaces the plasma removed during the donation process, which allows healthy individuals to donate as often as twice in a seven-day period, with at least one day between donations.
About BioLife Plasma Services
BioLife Plasma Services is an industry leader in the collection of high-quality plasma that is processed into life-saving plasma-based therapies. Founded in 2002, BioLife has been in operation for 18 years. We operate more than 170 state-of-the-art plasma collection facilities across the United States and Europe. BioLife Plasma Services is part of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK), a global values-based, R&D-driven pharmaceutical company that produces and delivers plasma-based therapies among other specialty medicines. For more information, visit BioLifePlasma.com.
About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments, guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Genetic and Hematology, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people’s lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in healthcare in approximately 80 countries. For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com.
Contacts
Alicia Highlander
BioLife Plasma Services
BioLife.Media.Relations@takeda.com
Lauren Barbiero
W2O Group
(646) 564-2156
lbarbiero@w2ogroup.com