COVID-19: Takeda's Biolife Locations Collecting Plasma for Therapy

The plasma from healthy individuals who recovered for COVID-19 is being collected at BioLife Plasma Services, a part of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. The convalescent plasma will be used to develop a potential therapy for COVID-19. 

 BioLife Plasma Service conducted this development program in collaboration with other plasma companies as part of CoVig-19 Plasma Alliance. Individuals who have fully recovered from COVID-19 and have been cleared as no longer contagious are encouraged to donate plasma to support the development of CoVIg-19, the potential therapeutic drug for COVID-19. 

The plasma of individuals who have recovered from infection and developed antibodies against the pathogen that caused the disease is referred to as convalescent plasma, according to Julia Ellwanger, Senior Communications Lead of Plasma-Derived Therapies. "The immunity is the basis for developing a therapy that, when administered to high-risk individuals, may help their immune system respond to the infection and increase their chance of recovery. Healthy individuals who have not been exposed to COVID-19 do not have this immunity.", she added.

The benefits of hyperimmune globulin 

CoVIg-19 is a hyperimmune globulin (H-IG) compound similar to immunoglobulin (IVIG). However, it is from the plasma of donors with high titers of antibodies against an antigen. 

Compared to receiving plasma directly, the use of H-IG involves a higher concentration of antibodies is administered; thus, its administration to high-risk individuals take a shorter time. The risk of the transmission of other viruses from the donor to the recipient is controlled as H-IG goes through virus inactivation and removal steps during its manufacturing process. 

These H-IG therapies, according to Ellwanger, were found to be effective in treating severe acute respiratory infections. She cited that during the H1N1 influenza pandemic, Takeda successfully produced a hyperimmune globulin to avert the said virus.

Collection of hyperimmune globulin for COVIg-19

The collection of the plasma is being done at All BioLife Centers. The said centers have developed a unique protocol for collecting plasma from healthy individuals who have recovered from COVID-19.

Their first step, Ellwanger explained, is to connect with individuals who may fir the criteria for donation on convalescent plasma. Individuals who had confirmed diagnosis and subsequent recovery from COVID-19 with the necessary documentation from their physicians are encouraged to contact MedInfo Center at 1-877-TAKEDA-7 (1-877-825-3327). Ellwanger urged those individuals with no BioLife Center near their residents to visit this link to find the nearest licensed plasma collection center from where they are.

Although Biolife has seen a moderate decline in donation rates, Ellwanger said they continue to encourage healthy individuals to donate plasma to support efforts in establishing an 'uninterrupted supply of plasma-derived medicines'. "We encourage and welcome all awareness and educational initiatives that will help ensure patients who rely on plasma-derived therapies continue to have care long-term.", Ellwanger added.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has noted plasma collection as a critical service.

Extra Precautionary Measures 

Biolife is taking the extra precautionary measure to ensure the health of donors and employees. Precautionary protocols for donors include checking for fever upon the arrival and providing basic screening to limit infectious diseases. Employees, on the other hand, go through temperature screening before resuming work, and if they feel they pose a risk, they are asked to stay-at-home.