Octapharma granted marketing authorisation renewal for Octaplas

Octapharma has announced that the health authorities in the UK have renewed the marketing authorisation of Octaplas for five years.

The compound has also has its authorisation renewed by the health authorities in Sweden, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Finland and Belgium.

Octaplas is a pharmaceutically-licensed alternative to plasma for use in transfusion.

The substance is fully-licensed in 29 countries across the world, with six million bags used to treat around two million patients since its launch in 1991, with some European countries using the product as its only source of plasma for transfusion.

It is solvent/detergent virus inactivated and standardised in protein content to encourage enhanced monitoring and planning of treatment.

Renewal of this authorisation officially dates from March 4th 2008, the company said.

“The removal of all residual blood cells and neutralisation of both allergens and antibodies against leukocytes render this medicinal product virtually free from causing allergic reactions,” Octapharma said.

It added that with the availability of Octaplas, the risk of transfusion-related acute lung injuries has been abolished.

Octapharma was established in 1983 and develops, produces and distributes finished plasma products derived from sourced plasma from the US, Austria, Germany and Scandinavia.