Alliance for Improved Plasma Protein Purification

An agreement to co-develop an improved plasma protein purification process has been announced by ProMetic Life Sciences, Inc. (Montreal, Canada) and American Red Cross Plasma Services (Washington, DC, USA).

The new process will utilize proprietary technologies from both companies to recover the most valuable therapeutic proteins from plasma in yields exceeding those currently obtained by standard manufacturing processes. The process will be provided to the Red Cross and, under license, to third parties, who will pay royalties to ProMetic and the Red Cross. In addition, ProMetic will supply the separation media requirements to the manufacturing facilities using the process. The process will be designed to be adaptable to existing facilities or to form the basis of completely new manufacturing facilities.

Therapeutic products derived from plasma are used to treat more than one million patients each year. Plasma contains about 60 g of proteins per liter. Plasma fractionating facilities extract immunoglobulins to treat immune deficiency conditions, coagulating factors to treat hemophilia, and albumin to treat hypovolumic shock, burns, and other conditions.

"The only way it is conceivable to improve product availability globally is by changing the manufacturing process and implementing high-yielding operating units,” said Chris Lamb, vice president and CEO, Red Cross Plasma Services.





Related Links:
ProMetic
Red Cross Plasma