California Plasma Coalition and Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association Host Briefing on Power of Plasma in California
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: March 24, 2026
Patients and experts share the life-saving impact of plasma-derived medicines
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Today, the California Plasma Coalition (CalPlasma), in partnership with the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA), hosted “Power of Plasma in California.” The educational briefing brought together experts and patient advocates to share insights into the plasma collection process, how plasma is turned into life-saving medicines for patients living with rare diseases, and why it’s so critical to build a stronger plasma ecosystem for Californians living with chronic diseases or experiencing acute trauma.
Plasma, the liquid portion of blood, is a lifeline for individuals living with immune deficiencies, rare diseases, and bleeding disorders, as well as those recovering from burns and trauma. These life-saving medicines depend entirely on the generosity of donors and cannot be manufactured in a lab. Despite California being home to more than 60 plasma collection centers, the state still does not collect enough plasma to meet its own demand and must rely on donations from other states. This means Californians rely on long, fragile supply chains for something as time-sensitive and essential as plasma, creating potential disruptions in patient access like delays in care and longer wait times.
“What began as a routine shot during pregnancy after my alloimmunization diagnosis became a powerful reminder of just how essential plasma-derived medicines are,” said Casey Kelly, a Sonora resident living with alloimmunization. “When my daughter was born with hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, I saw firsthand how critical treatments like Rh Immune Globulin can be, especially when timing is everything. That experience made it clear how fragile the supply becomes if we don’t support the centers that make source plasma donation possible. Knowing our story is not unique is what led me to become a donor myself, to give back, and to help ensure others have access to care when it matters most.”
Despite plasma’s critical role in health care, public awareness remains limited, and outdated state regulations continue to prevent source plasma donation centers from operating at full efficiency. Strengthening and modernizing these policies would help ensure a more reliable, sustainable plasma supply for Californians.
“Even with 65 plasma collection centers operating statewide, California still has significantly fewer centers per capita than many other states,” said Peter Jaworski, Professor of Strategy, Ethics, Economics, and Public Policy, Georgetown University. “That gap leaves Californians dependent on plasma collected hundreds or even thousands of miles away, leaving potential collection capacity and economic benefit opportunities untapped in their own communities. If the state fails to modernize the policies governing plasma centers, California risks putting patients living with chronic or rare conditions at risk of worse health outcomes.”
The briefing, moderated by Capitol Weekly’s Editor-in-Chief, Rich Ehisen, offered a comprehensive look at the source plasma donation process – from collection to fractionation to the production of medicine – and emphasized the wide range of conditions treated with plasma-derived medicines, including severe burns, trauma, pregnancy complications such as alloimmunization and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, and more.
“As more rare and chronic diseases rely on plasma-derived medicines, demand will continue to rise, making it critical for California to build a strong, reliable plasma ecosystem,” said James Knowles, Ph.D., Vice President, Global Regulatory Policy & Scientific Affairs, Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association. “For the thousands of Californians who depend on these treatments, a modern regulatory supply isn’t optional, it’s essential to continue meeting their needs. We’re hopeful state leaders will take action to ensure California not only keeps pace, but can start to lead the country in meeting this growing need.”
A recording of the event is available on CalPlasma’s X and YouTube accounts. To learn more about the California Plasma Coalition or find ways to get involved, please visit www.calplasma.org.
About California Plasma Coalition
The California Plasma Coalition (CalPlasma) is a dedicated community of patients, donors, health care professionals, and advocates working to ensure that every Californian has timely access to life-saving plasma medicines when they need them most. Learn more by visiting CalPlasma.org.
About the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA)
PPTA represents the global plasma collection and therapeutics industry, working to ensure the availability of lifesaving plasma-derived therapies for patients with rare and chronic conditions.
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