REDMOND, Wash. and NEW YORK, May 26,
2020 /PRNewswire/ --
A coalition of world-leading medical and
research institutions, blood centers, life
science companies, technology companies, philanthropic
organizations, and COVID-19 survivor groups has come
together to support the rapid development of potential
new therapies for patients with COVID-19. Working
together under the "The Fight Is In Us" campaign, the
coalition is seeking to mobilize tens of thousands of
people in the United States who have recovered from
COVID-19 to donate their blood plasma, which
contains vital antibodies that have fought off the
disease and could now help others do the same.
The campaign is working against two urgent timelines:
to recruit COVID-19 survivors within two months of their
recovery to ensure that their blood plasma contains a robust enough
concentration of antibodies to have
a positive effect, and to address the
substantial seasonal increase in COVID-19 cases
anticipated this fall in the Northern Hemisphere by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health
experts.
"As an early survivor of COVID-19, I was desperate to do
whatever was in my power to be a part of the solution. I started
Survivor Corps to mobilize and connect the thousands of people
affected by COVID-19 to support all ongoing scientific, medical and
academic research, and this coalition is furthering our goal," said
Diana Berrent, founder of Survivor
Corps. "Inside COVID-19 survivors is the antibody-rich blood plasma
that may help stem the tide of this pandemic. The time is
now for superhero volunteers to donate their blood plasma and help
stop COVID-19 in its tracks."
Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19, or know someone
who has, can visit TheFightIsInUs.org to understand if they
may be eligible to donate and find a nearby blood or plasma donor
center using a simple self-screening tool. Donating blood
plasma is a generally safe and proven process. The coalition offers
more than 1,500 locations at which COVID-19 survivors can choose to
donate. Donations can be made at both blood and plasma donor
centers.
The coalition partners are working on
two distinct approaches for treating COVID-19
that both urgently require collection
of convalescent plasma now. One approach is the direct
transfusion of blood plasma though the Expanded Access Program for
convalescent plasma, which is currently being administered
with authorization from the Food & Drug Administration by
Mayo Clinic. Its safety and
efficacy are currently being evaluated through
multiple clinical trials in different populations. Blood donor
centers throughout the country are currently collecting
convalescent plasma from COVID-19 survivors for this
purpose. The other approach is the development of
a medicine known as a hyperimmune globulin (H-Ig), which is
being manufactured now and will be studied in clinical trials
this summer. Through the manufacturing process, the plasma is
pooled, concentrated and purified, resulting in a vial of medicine
with consistent levels of antibodies that is easy to
store, distribute and administer to patients. Coalition
members developing an H-Ig include CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance (CSL
Behring, Takeda, ADMA Biologics, Biopharma Plasma, Biotest, BPL, GC
Pharma, Octapharma and Sanquin) and Grifols.
About The Fight Is In Us
The
Fight Is In Us will help advance
global research and understanding of
COVID-19; progress toward effective, sustainable and widely
available convalescent plasma-based therapies; and
the medically sound allocation and use of convalescent
plasma. The organizations and coalitions involved
include leading academic
medical institutions (the National COVID-19
Convalescent Plasma Expanded Access Program led by Mayo
Clinic, Michigan State University and
Washington University School of
Medicine in St.
Louis); leading plasma companies (Grifols and
the CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance, which includes founding
members CSL Behring, Takeda, ADMA Biologics, Biopharma Plasma,
Biotest, BPL, GC Pharma, Octapharma and Sanquin); leading
blood centers (including the AABB, America's Blood
Centers, Blood Centers of America, New York Blood Centers and
Vitalant); healthcare organizations (Anthem and Ashfield
Healthcare); COVID-19 survivor groups including Survivor
Corps; and media including Ad Council.
The Fight Is In Us is also supported by advisory and
technology members. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the
Lasker Foundation are providing advisory support. Microsoft
Corp. is providing technology support for the development
of TheFightIsInUs.org
and a simple self-screening tool for
potential donors. MITRE, a not-for-profit organization that
operates federally funded research and development centers, is
hosting both the website and tool. Uber Health has
contributed 25,000 free, roundtrip Uber rides to and from plasma
donor centers for those potentially eligible to donate.
The combined efforts of these organizations will
contribute specialist advisory expertise, technical guidance
and additional support to potentially save more
lives — together. But the coalition's success
depends on the urgent support
of survivor donors around the world. Those who
have recovered from COVID-19 can learn more about how
to donate their strength and about the
coalition partners at TheFightIsInUs.org.
About AABB
AABB is an international, not-for-profit
association representing individuals and institutions involved in
the fields of transfusion medicine and biotherapies. The
Association is committed to improving health through the
development and delivery of standards, accreditation and
educational programs that focus on optimizing patient and donor
care and safety. AABB membership includes physicians, nurses,
scientists, researchers, administrators, medical technologists and
other health care providers. AABB members are located in more than
80 countries and AABB accredits institutions in more than 50
countries. For more information, visit: www.aabb.org.
About Bio Products Laboratory (BPL)
Recognising
the power of plasma and with over 60 years heritage in the
industry, BPL supplies high-quality plasma derived medicines to
meet the needs of clinicians, patients and customers
globally. Headquartered in the United Kingdom and with plasma collection
centres across the United States,
we are dedicated to producing medicines for the treatment of immune
deficiencies, bleeding disorders and infectious diseases as well
for critical care. BPL invests in the latest R&D,
technology and manufacturing methods, and continuously adapts to
ensure that we continue to serve all our stakeholders
effectively. For more information
visit http://www.bplgroup.com.
About the CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance
In an effort to help fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, a new
alliance was created in April 2020 to
help develop a potential plasma-derived therapy for people at risk
for serious complications from COVID-19.
The CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance brings together world-leading
plasma companies to work on the development of an investigational
unbranded polyclonal anti-SARS-CoV-2 hyperimmune globulin medicine
with the potential to treat patients who are at risk for serious
complications from COVID-19.
The "I" and "g" in CoVIg-19 stand for immune globulin,
which the CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance will use to concentrate the
antibodies into a potential medicine.
The Alliance, formed by CSL Behring and Takeda, also includes
the leading-edge expertise of Biotest, BPL, LFB, and Octapharma.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is providing advisory
support. Microsoft is providing technology including the Alliance
website and the Plasma Bot for donor recruitment. Experts from the
Alliance are collaborating across key aspects such as plasma
collection, clinical trial development, and product
manufacturing.
About CSL Behring
CSL Behring is a global
biotherapeutics leader driven by its promise to save lives. Focused
on serving patients' needs by using the latest technologies, we
develop and deliver innovative therapies that are used to treat
coagulation disorders, primary immune deficiencies, hereditary
angioedema, inherited respiratory disease, and neurological
disorders. The company's products are also used in cardiac surgery,
burn treatment and to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn. CSL
Behring operates one of the world's largest plasma collection
networks, CSL Plasma. The parent company, CSL
Limited (ASX:CSL;USOTC:CSLLY), headquartered in
Melbourne, Australia, employs more
than 26,000 people, and delivers its life-saving therapies to
people in more than 70 countries. For more information,
visit www.cslbehring.com and for inspiring stories about
the promise of biotechnology, visit
Vita www.cslbehring.com/Vita.
About Grifols
Grifols is a global healthcare company
founded in Barcelona in 1909
committed to improving the health and well-being of people around
the world. Its four divisions – Bioscience, Diagnostic, Hospital
and Bio Supplies – develop, produce and market innovative solutions
and services that are sold in more than 100 countries.
Pioneers in the plasma industry, Grifols operates a growing
network of donation centers worldwide. It transforms collected
plasma into essential medicines to treat chronic, rare and, at
times, life-threatening conditions. As a recognized leader in
transfusion medicine, Grifols also offers a comprehensive portfolio
of solutions designed to enhance safety from donation to
transfusion. In addition, the company supplies tools, information
and services that enable hospitals, pharmacies and healthcare
professionals to efficiently deliver expert medical care.
Grifols, with more than 24,000 employees in 30 countries and
regions, is committed to a sustainable business model that sets the
standard for continuous innovation, quality, safety and ethical
leadership.
The company's class A shares are listed on the Spanish Stock
Exchange, where they are part of the Ibex-35 (MCE:GRF). Grifols
non-voting class B shares are listed on the Mercado Continuo
(MCE:GRF.P) and on the U.S. NASDAQ through ADRs (NASDAQ:GRFS).
For more information, please visit www.grifols.com.
About Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to
innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and
providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs
healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for
additional Mayo Clinic news and An Inside Look at Mayo
Clinic for more information about Mayo.
About Octapharma
Headquartered in Lachen,
Switzerland, Octapharma is one of
the largest human protein manufacturers in the world, developing
and producing human proteins from human plasma and human cell
lines. Octapharma employs more than 10,000 people worldwide to
support the treatment of patients in 118 countries with products
across three therapeutic areas: Hematology; Immunotherapy and
Critical care. Octapharma has seven R&D sites and six
state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Austria, France, Germany, Mexico and Sweden, with a combined capacity of
approximately 8 mil litres of plasma per annum. In addition,
Octapharma operates more than 140 plasma donation centres across
Europe and the US. For more
information, visit www.octapharma.com.
About Survivor Corps
Survivor Corps is the
largest grassroots movement in America dedicated to actively ending
this pandemic. We are mobilizing all those affected by COVID-19 to
support all ongoing scientific, medical and academic research to
find a vaccine and a cure. We hope to get people back into their
communities and back to work, all while fostering the spirit of
unity and solidarity that is urgently needed during this time of
crisis.
With every passing day, thousands of people across the country
are being infected with COVID-19. The vast majority will survive
and most will likely develop antibodies to the virus. The mysteries
to this virus will be solved, in part, by individual donations to
scientific research.
Survivor Corps is the epicenter of HOPE. For more
information, visit www.survivorcorps.com.
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.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft)
enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud
and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and
every organization on the planet to achieve more.
Additional Quote Sheet will also be included
in press package
AABB
"AABB is proud to support blood centers
throughout the country that are collecting potentially lifesaving
plasma from COVID-19 survivors. The blood banking community is an
integral part of our health care system, and their heroism has
truly been on display during this pandemic. Convalescent plasma can
be a game-changing therapy for patients in need, and we are pleased
to be part of a coalition that recognizes and supports the vital
work blood centers do." — Debra
BenAvram, CEO of the American Association of Blood Banks
(AABB)
Ad Council
"We are proud to join this critical
campaign to educate and empower COVID-19 survivors to donate plasma
to help save the lives of others. During this time of uncertainty,
we know that this will be a powerful tool in the fight against
COVID-19." — Lisa Sherman, President
and CEO of the Ad Council
America's Blood Centers
"Community blood
centers continue to be at the forefront of the nation's efforts to
collect convalescent plasma from individuals who have recovered
from COVID-19. ABC member blood centers remain committed to
ensuring the availability of convalescent plasma as a potential
treatment for COVID-19 patients and are pleased to have the support
of Microsoft and other partner organizations in expanding the
collection of convalescent plasma throughout the U.S. Community
blood centers will remain mobilized in assisting the nation's
COVID-19 response efforts."— Kate
Fry, Chief Executive Officer, America's Blood Centers
Anthem
"At Anthem, we recognize the importance of
building a convalescent plasma biobank in the fight against
COVID-19, and are proud to support the efforts to help COVID-19
survivors, patients and their caregivers. Joining the coalition and
The Fight Is In Us campaign expands on our partnership and
leadership in collaborative efforts with community and healthcare
organizations to lead through care, guide the recovery and help
shape public-private solutions for the future of healthcare." —
Steve Friedhoff, Chief Clinical
Officer, Anthem
Ashfield Healthcare
"Ashfield Healthcare is extremely
proud to be part of this collaborative partnership in the fight
against COVID-19. Patients are at the core of the healthcare
services that we provide, and we're passionate about leveraging our
industry-leading contact center service to support COVID-19
survivors. We are committed to supporting the survivors who will be
participating in this critical campaign to donate their plasma." —
Greg Flynn, Global President,
Ashfield Healthcare
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
"Safe and
effective treatments for COVID-19 are urgently needed, and
convalescent plasma and hyperimmune globulin could play a key role
in saving lives and protecting frontline responders from infection
until vaccines are widely available. We're excited that major
academic research institutions and life science companies have
joined forces to accelerate the development of potentially
lifesaving products, and we're incredibly grateful to COVID-19
survivors for their essential commitment to this fight." —
Trevor Mundel, President of Global
Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance
"Partnership and
collaboration are critical to the success of all the coalition
development programs that rely on convalescent plasma donation. The
more plasma we can collect, and the earlier we can collect it, will
directly impact the speed and scale of our efforts. The growing and
active involvement of leading public and private companies from
outside the plasma industry, who support the drive for plasma
donation, underscores the potential of convalescent plasma to fight
this public health crisis. Together, we all share the same goal —
to save lives by using the power of this scarce resource in
different ways." — Julie Kim,
President of Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit, Takeda, and
Co-Leader, CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance
"During times of uncertainty, leaders must lead. The hyperimmune
globulin therapy has the potential to be one of the earliest
treatment options for COVID-19 and also can be scaled and
distributed. We look forward to working with NIAID and health
authorities to bring this therapy to patients as early as possible.
One of the stated goals of the alliance is to be an effective
partner for important institutions such as NIAID and also to help
develop coherent regulatory strategies that can give global health
authorities the confidence to streamline the approval process of
hyperimmune globulin therapy for COVID-19." — Bill
Mezzanotte, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, CSL
Behring, and Co-Leader, CoVIg-19 Plasma Alliance
Grifols
"The development of a hyperimmune globulin for
treatment as well as pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis is not just
a rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to its
attributes as a readily available therapy, it can bridge the time
necessary to develop a vaccine. The technology also forms the basis
for rapid deployment of a therapy in response to future outbreaks
of emerging viruses and other pathogens. The Fight Is In Us
provides the opportunity to harness biology's natural solution to
fighting disease." — David Bell,
Chief Innovation Officer, Grifols
Mayo Clinic
"It's important to know that
convalescent plasma is a biological product that has to be obtained
from a specific set of patients who have recovered from COVID-19.
It cannot be made in a lab. There's no other source. That's why
reaching as many of these volunteers as possible is so
essential." — Michael Joyner,
M.D., Anesthesiologist, Mayo Clinic, and Principal Investigator,
Expanded Access Program (EAP) for convalescent plasma to fight
COVID-19
"Mayo Clinic's researchers are working around the clock to
accelerate discoveries related to NB SARS-CoV2, the virus, and
COVID-19, the disease. Successful outcomes have never been more
urgently needed, and we continue to depend on the collaborative
efforts of many across the nation and the globe to rapidly
discover, translate and apply scientific advances." —
Gregory Gores, M.D., Kinney
Executive Dean for Research, Mayo
Clinic
Microsoft
"Microsoft has provided the technology infrastructure for a
health bot that guides people through their eligibility as a
plasma donor and directs them to the nearest donor
center. Basically, we're asking people who have
survived COVID-19 to contribute to helping others do the
same." — Peter Lee, Corporate Vice
President, AI and Research, Microsoft
The MITRE Corporation
"We are privileged to serve as a
trusted partner to host the website to spread the critical message
on how recovered patients can help others in need. Building an army
of donors to rapidly develop effective plasma-based treatments is
an exemplar of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts."
— Rich Byrne, Senior Vice President,
The MITRE Corporation
Uber Health
"There is a long road ahead in the fight
against COVID-19, and we must continue to support those on the
front lines and those working towards a potential treatment. We at
Uber are committed to helping move what matters, and Uber Health is
proud to donate rides to the Plasma Collection Coalition,
eliminating transportation as a barrier to plasma donation for
those who are eligible, and willing, to participate." —
Dan Trigub, Head of Uber Health
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SOURCE Microsoft Corporation