NHS marks one year of UK plasma donations

The NHS is marking one year since patients began receiving medicines made from plasma donated in the UK, and some patients report symptom stabilisation after monthly intravenous immunoglobulin infusions.

The NHS is marking one year since patients began receiving medicines made from plasma donated by people in the UK. Some patients, including a man treated at King's College Hospital, report that monthly intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions have stabilised symptoms and reduced their need for other treatments. The UK previously banned home-donated plasma in 1998 over concerns about variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and lifted that ban for immunoglobulin medicines in February 2021 with precautionary measures in place. Despite the change, the country still imports the majority of its plasma medicines and meets about 23% of domestic immunoglobulin demand. Key facts: - The NHS is celebrating one year since patients began receiving medicines made from plasma donated in the UK. - A patient treated at King's College Hospital reports symptom stability after monthly IVIG infusions. - The UK currently imports most plasma medicines and supplies about 23% of its immunoglobulin needs. - The ban on home-donated plasma was lifted in February 2021 and precautionary safety measures are reported to be in place. Summary: Some patients have reported clinical benefit from medicines made with UK-donated plasma, and clinicians note these supplies have helped reduce treatment burdens for some individuals. The UK remains reliant on international imports for most plasma medicines, and officials have stated aims to increase domestic collection; details and timing are undetermined at this time.