BioLife Plasma Services Announces Opening of First Plasma Donation Center in New Jersey

New center in Deptford opens to support an urgent patient need for human plasma

DEPTFORD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioLife Plasma Services, part of the global biopharmaceutical company Takeda, today announced the opening of a new plasma center in Deptford to help meet the urgent need for plasma donations, which has become even greater during the pandemic. Plasma donations received at BioLife centers are used by Takeda to make established therapies that treat a range of rare and complex conditions for which there is often no alternative treatment.

“Now, more than ever, donors in the Deptford area have a unique opportunity to make a difference in the community through plasma donation, and we are deeply committed to making treatment options available for patients who rely on plasma-derived medications,” said Tyson Brimberry, manager of the BioLife Plasma Services Deptford center. “Plasma is a lifeline for thousands of people with rare, chronic and complex diseases, and we are excited to open the first BioLife plasma donation center in New Jersey.”

The Deptford center joins a growing network of more than 140 state-of-the-art plasma donation centers in the U.S., recognized for their world-class donation safety standards. As the demand for plasma-based therapies increases, BioLife is expanding to help meet the resulting need for plasma donations. The center will contribute approximately $2-3 million annually through donor compensation and bring 60 new jobs to the community.

During each donation, plasma is separated from the blood and the blood elements are returned back into the donor’s body, through a simple, low-risk process called plasmapheresis. Screened plasma collected from healthy individuals is processed into a wide variety of therapeutics for people around the world with rare, life-threatening diseases, such as immunodeficiency disorders, hemophilia and hereditary angioedema.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BioLife Plasma Services has implemented additional screening and safety measures in line with public health guidance to help guarantee the safety and health of donors and employees, as well as the safety of the collected plasma. All donors will need to wear a mask or other cloth face covering inside a BioLife Plasma center.

Prospective donors can make online appointments to visit the Deptford center (1450 Clements Bridge Rd. Ste. 11, Deptford, NJ 08096), which opens on Saturday, March 13. They must pass a physical examination at their first visit and are screened at each visit to ensure they meet eligibility criteria. All donors are compensated for their time and commitment.

To learn more about BioLife Plasma Services, the donation process, and to schedule an appointment, please visit the BioLife website.

About Plasma

Plasma is the clear, straw-colored liquid portion of blood that can be easily replaced by the body. Plasma makes up more than half of whole blood and consists primarily of water and proteins. During plasma donation, a donor’s blood is collected into an automated device that separates the plasma from the other whole blood components, including red and white blood cells and platelets. While the plasma is collected, the other blood components are returned to the donor. Each donation procedure uses sterile and disposable collection materials. The body quickly replaces the plasma removed during the donation process, which allows healthy individuals to donate as often as twice in a seven-day period, with at least one day between donations.

About BioLife Plasma Services

BioLife Plasma Services is an industry leader in the collection of high-quality plasma that is processed into life-saving plasma-based therapies. Founded in 2002, BioLife has been in operation for 18 years. We operate more than 170 state-of-the-art plasma collection facilities across the United States and Europe. BioLife Plasma Services is part of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK), a global values-based, R&D-driven pharmaceutical company that produces and delivers plasma-based therapies among other specialty medicines. For more information, visit BioLifePlasma.com.

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments, guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Genetic and Hematology, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in healthcare in approximately 80 countries. For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com.

Alicia Highlander
BioLife Plasma Services
BioLife.Media.Relations@takeda.com

Lauren Barbiero
W2O Group
(646) 564-2156
lbarbiero@w2ogroup.com