From October 6–10, 2025, Alpha-1 Europe Alliance is proud to join the global community in celebrating International Plasma Awareness Week (IPAW 2025). This annual initiative raises awareness about the vital importance of plasma donation, honors the generosity of donors, and highlights the life-saving impact of plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs) for people living with rare, chronic, and life-threatening conditions.
This year marks a milestone for our community: the launch of our very first European-focused campaign to raise awareness about plasma collection. With this step, we are building a collective voice at the European level to shine a light on the urgent challenges and needs in our region.
Why plasma matters
Plasma is a vital component of blood, making up 55% of its volume. It is the source of life-saving therapies for more than 300,000 patients across Europe, including people with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (AATD). To put this into perspective, it takes more than 900 plasma donations to treat just one Alpha-1 patient.
The demand for plasma is rising. Advances in diagnostics, earlier detection, longer patient survival, and stronger clinical evidence have all contributed to a growing population relying on PDMPs.
The challenges in Europe
Despite this growing need, Europe is facing a plasma shortage. Our region depends on the United States for about 40% of its plasma supply, leaving patients vulnerable to disruptions. To meet current and future needs, Europe will require at least 2 million additional blood and plasma donors, willing to donate several times per year.
We believe the solution lies in fostering both public and private plasma collection through a dual-ethics model. Countries such as Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, and Hungary have achieved self-sufficiency by combining regulated, compensated donation with strong ethical safeguards.
Policy priorities
The newly adopted SoHO Regulation provides a legal framework to improve the safety, quality, and accessibility of substances of human origin used for medical purposes, including plasma. We call on EU Member States to build on this progress by ensuring sustainable and ethical plasma collection models across Europe and reducing reliance on non-EU plasma to safeguard patients’ access to treatment.
Join us!
The Alpha-1 Europe Alliance campaign will run for one week across social media platforms, with seven daily posts highlighting key facts and calls to action. A dedicated landing page and a multilingual social media toolkit (available in English, Spanish, Italian, Romanian, German, and more) will help patient groups, healthcare professionals, and supporters amplify the message.
Let’s join forces! Download our campaign posts and help us raise awareness. Together, we can support plasma donation, influence policy, and secure a future where all patients have timely access to the treatments they need.
