Event report
Past Event | Life in a drop - Addressing Blood Plasma Uniqueness and Supply Challenges
The blood plasma uniqueness and the current supply challenges in a global market were the focus of our latest Healthcare Committee meeting, co-organised with the Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Held at Elementum Biopolis, this insightful panel discussion was led by Bruce Wee Diong Lim, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors at IPOPI; Svenja Barckhausen, Blood Plasma Strategy Expert and Keynote Speaker; and Philipp Hammer-Purgstall, Owner & Global CEO at INOSOLVE Group. The session was skilfully moderated by Maximilian Englisch, Global Vice-President of Sales at WALDNER Group.
Please find below the key takeaways from the session:
COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic highlighted the fragility of plasma supply chains, with reduced donations and demand spikes of plasma derived medicinal products. Lessons learned from such disruptions can guide future crisis management.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborative efforts among governments, NGOs, and pharmaceutical companies can ensure more equitable access to plasma-based therapies.
Global Supply Imbalance: The world depends on U.S. plasma collection which leads to supply vulnerabilities in other parts of the world. Understanding this imbalance is critical to developing strategies for sustainability.
Raising Awareness: A public awareness campaign can help educate people about the importance of plasma donation and its impact on saving lives.
Incentives for Donation: Exploring both financial and non-financial incentives for donors to maintain a steady and sustainable supply.
Cost and Access: Plasma-derived therapies are expensive due to biotechnological manufacturing, which raises concerns about healthcare equity. Discussions on how to assure reimbursement and broader access could be a major learning point.
Following the presentation, the panel and attendees engaged in a lively discussion on the topic, contributing further insights.
Thank you to our esteemed speakers, moderator, and all attendees for an insightful and informative session.
A special thanks to Life Science Incubator for hosting us.
For more information about the Healthcare Committee, please contact Vanessa Hobbs vhobbs(@)fccsingapore.com