Using Plasma to Treat Rare Diseases

RARECast

For certain rare diseases, therapies derived from human plasma, the largest component of blood, represent critical lifesaving and life-sustaining medicines. In many cases, it may represent the only therapeutic option. Takeda pharmaceutical’s Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit works across immunodeficiencies, neuroimmunology, hematology, pulmonology and other conditions. We spoke to Giles Platford, president of the Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit at Takeda, about its work in plasma-derived therapies, its recently approved therapy for the rare neuromuscular condition CIDP, and what issues need to be addressed to ensure an adequate supply of human plasma for therapeutic applications.