NHS patients around the country are now receiving a lifesaving medicine made from the plasma of blood donors in Lincolnshire.
This historic milestone marks the first time in a quarter of a century plasma is being used to make life-saving medicines for NHS patients, reducing reliance on imports.
These lifesaving medicines can only be made from human blood. Plasma makes up 55 per cent of our blood and contains antibodies which strengthen or stabilise the immune system.
The antibodies are separated out and made into medicines which treat people with life limiting illnesses such as immune deficiencies.
Over the past three years, plasma from blood donors in Lincolnshire and across England has been stored up, and it has now been made into medicines through a week-long manufacturing process.
The first patients are now receiving the medicines.
The most important medicine is immunoglobulin. Dozens of people Lincolnshire receive immunoglobulin each year.
Over the past three years, blood donors in Lincolnshire have supplied around 6,100 litres of plasma, enough to make around 2,700 bottles of immunoglobulin, which is enough to save or improve around 75 lives over a year.
In England, around 17,000 people rely on immunoglobulin to save or improve their lives each year. And thousands of patients rely on albumin – another plasma medicine – which is used in childbirth, trauma, and to treat liver conditions.
An NHS spokesman said: “The news is important because there is a global shortage of plasma medicines.
“The new supply of UK plasma medicines will bolster supplies to the NHS. It will reduce reliance on imports, which can be hit by reductions in supply and prices spikes.”
