The 4th annual International Plasma Awareness Week (IPAW) will be celebrated October 9-15. IPAW represents a shared initiative by the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) and its member companies, including Octapharma Plasma, to recognize the contributions of blood plasma donors in changing and saving the lives of millions of patients every year. IPAW also raises global awareness about blood plasma collection, and educates the public on how plasma is used to create medicines that treat rare, chronic diseases, trauma, and other critical care procedures.
The week will be marked by a variety of awareness and education initiatives – both in the U.S. and abroad – including donor appreciation events, special events for patients and their families, and advocacy among healthcare organizations, government officials, and the media.
Judy Smith, Octapharma Plasma’s EVP and COO, said, “We are proud to participate in IPAW 2016 in recognition and appreciation of our loyal donors who regularly contribute plasma and help save the lives of patients worldwide.”
Plasma is a biological material that cannot be created in a lab, and millions of patients rely on plasma donations for the continued creation of life-saving medicines. Plasma-based medicines treat rare, genetic, and chronic diseases such as hemophilia and immune deficiency disorders. They are also used for trauma and burn victims and for critical care procedures like major surgeries, cancer treatments, organ transplants, and more.
To learn more about IPAW 2016, please visit www.pptaglobal.org.
