BioLife Plasma Services Announces Opening of a Plasma Collection Center in North Las Vegas

BioLife Plasma Services, part of the global biopharmaceutical company Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, today announced the opening of a new plasma collection center in North Las Vegas to collect standard plasma from healthy donors. In addition, Las Vegas residents who have fully recovered from COVID-19 can visit the nearby Henderson center to donate convalescent plasma containing antibodies, which may be used to help develop an investigational medicine for COVID-19 made from human plasma.

“Now, more than ever, donors in the greater Las Vegas area have a unique opportunity to make a difference in the community through plasma donation, and we are deeply committed to making treatment options available for patients who rely on plasma-derived medications,” said Caleb Astle, manager of the BioLife Plasma Services North Las Vegas center. “Plasma is a lifeline for thousands of people with rare, chronic and complex diseases.”

Through a simple, low-risk process called plasmapheresis, plasma is separated from the blood and the blood elements are returned back into the donor’s body. Screened plasma collected from healthy individuals is processed into a wide variety of therapeutics for people around the world with rare, life-threatening diseases, such as immunodeficiency disorders, hemophilia and hereditary angioedema.

In addition to the usual eligibility, donors who have recently recovered from COVID-19 and wish to donate convalescent plasma at the Henderson center must have a confirmed diagnosis and be symptom free for 14 days. BioLife Plasma Services has joined “The Fight Is In Us,” a nationwide campaign led sponsored by institutions, blood collections and healthcare organizations to generate awareness to drive convalescent plasma donations.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BioLife Plasma Services has implemented additional screening and safety measures in line with public health guidance to help guarantee the safety and health of donors and employees, as well as the safety of the collected plasma. All donors will need to wear a mask or other cloth face covering inside a BioLife Plasma center.

Prospective donors can make online appointments to visit the North Las Vegas center (1711 W. Craig Rd., North Las Vegas, NV 89032), which opens on Saturday, July 11. They must pass a physical examination at their first visit and are screened at each visit to ensure they meet eligibility criteria. All donors are compensated for their time and commitment.

The North Las Vegas center is approximately 24,000 square feet, and the state-of-the-art facility provides access to free Wi-Fi and a clean, professional, smoke-free environment. The new center is the second BioLife center to open in Nevada and expects to bring more than 40 new jobs to the Las Vegas community.

To learn more about BioLife Plasma Services, the donation process, and to schedule an appointment, please visit the BioLife website.

Las Vegas residents can also make online appointments to visit the Henderson location (2255 N. Green Valley Pkwy, Henderson, NV 89014) to donate convalescent plasma. To learn more about convalescent plasma donation for those who have recovered from COVID-19 and meet the eligibility criteria, please visit The Fight Is In Us landing page on the BioLife website.

About Plasma

Plasma is the clear, straw-colored liquid portion of blood that can be easily replaced by the body. Plasma makes up more than half of whole blood and consists primarily of water and proteins. During plasma donation, a donor’s blood is collected into an automated device that separates the plasma from the other whole blood components, including red and white blood cells and platelets. While the plasma is collected, the other blood components are returned to the donor. Each donation procedure uses sterile and disposable collection materials. The body quickly replaces the plasma removed during the donation process, which allows healthy individuals to donate as often as twice in a seven-day period, with at least one day between donations.

About BioLife Plasma Services

BioLife Plasma Services is an industry leader in the collection of high-quality plasma that is processed into life-saving plasma-based therapies. Founded in 2002, BioLife has been in operation for 18 years. We operate approximately 150 state-of-the-art plasma collection facilities across the United States and Europe. BioLife Plasma Services is part of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK), a global values-based, R&D-driven pharmaceutical company that produces and delivers plasma-derived therapies among other specialty medicines.

About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Diseases, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries. For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200708005246/en/