Supply and demand for plasma‐derived medicinal products ‐ A critical reassessment amid the COVID ‐19 pandemic

Plasma‐derived medicinal products (PDMP) play an integral role in medical treatment and prophylaxis. Most plasma used for manufacturing medicinal products is collected as source plasma by apheresis from donors in dedicated plasma collection centers. The United States is the largest contributor to the global source plasma supply; most other countries depend on the import of plasma or plasma‐derived medicinal products. Plasma supply and demand are held in a fine balance. The 2019 shortage of IVIG showed the fragility of the system. The COVID‐19 pandemic has introduced additional stress on the plasma supply. At the same time demand for plasma‐derived medicinal products has further increased as they are tested as a potential treatment for this new disease. Transfusions of convalescent plasma, hyperimmune globulins derived from convalescent plasma and immunoglobulins are under investigation, with promising early safety and efficacy signals. Supply will have to be protected and boosted and demand will have to be managed fairly and effectively. If this issue is unaddressed, shortages of plasma‐derived medicinal products, such as IVIG, have to be expected by the beginning of 2021.