pharmaceutical · input
Raw material for all plasma-derived medicines (IVIG, albumin, Factor VIII, hyperimmune globulins); US supplies 70% of global source plasma via paid donor model; Europe produces only 63% of its own demand; cannot be synthesized — requires human donors
4
Source countries
6
Companies
1
Goods affected
0
Claims on record
What depends on it
1 essential American goods rely on human source plasma (paid donation) somewhere upstream in their supply chain.
Where it comes from
Share of global supply, by country.
| Country | Share of supply |
|---|---|
| USUnited States | 70% |
| DEGermany | 8% |
| ATAustria | 5% |
| CZCzech Republic | 5% |
Who makes it
6 companies produce human source plasma (paid donation).
Largest plasma fractionator globally; ~33% market share; operates the world's single largest fractionation facility (Broadmeadows, Australia, processing 10M+ liters/year); subsidiary of CSL Limited (ASX: CSL); acquired Vifor Pharma 2022
Second-largest plasma company globally; operates 400+ plasma collection centers worldwide; processes ~25% of global plasma supply; investing EUR 160M in Barcelona fractionation expansion (2025); major US presence through Talecris acquisition
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Tokyo Japan; TSE: 4502; NYSE: TAK; ~¥4.3T revenue; Japan's largest pharmaceutical company) is the world's #3 plasma fractionator through its Plasma-Derived Therapeutics (PDT) business division — the operations acquired from Baxter International's BioScience division in 2014 (BaxAlt / Baxalta acquisition completed 2016 for $32B). Takeda's PDT segment produces IVIG (GAMMAGARD LIQUID, HYQVIA), albumin, Factor VIII/IX/VWF products, and alpha-1 antitrypsin (GLASSIA) for immunodeficiency, hemophilia, hereditary angioedema, and respiratory disease patients globally. Takeda operates plasma collection centers under the BioLife Plasma Services brand in the US (300+ centers) and fractionation facilities in Lessines Belgium, Los Angeles CA, Covington GA, and Atlanta GA. Takeda's 2016 $32B acquisition of Shire (including Shire's Baxalta plasma business) was the largest acquisition in Japanese corporate history at the time.
Third-largest plasma fractionator (~29.5% market share); built through acquisitions of Shire (2019, $62B) and Baxalta; major hemophilia and immunology plasma portfolio; PDT (plasma-derived therapies) division is a standalone business unit
Octapharma AG (Lachen, Schwyz Switzerland; private; founded 1983 by Wolfgang Marguerre who remains owner; ~€3.5B revenue) is the world's largest privately-owned plasma fractionator — and the largest plasma company not listed on a stock exchange. Octapharma produces IVIG (Octagam, Gammaplex), albumin (Albiomin), Factor VIII/IX (Nuwiq, Wilate), and clotting factors from plasma collected at its 250+ OctaPlasma collection centers in the US and Europe. Octapharma's willingness to remain private gives it long-term investment horizons that publicly-traded competitors face pressure against. Octapharma operates fractionation facilities in Vienna Austria, Springe Germany, Stockholm Sweden, Copenhagen Denmark, and Lingolsheim France. Founded by a single Austrian pharmacist, Octapharma has grown to become a major global pharmaceutical company through retained earnings rather than capital markets.
Fourth-largest plasma fractionator globally (~10-12% market share); privately owned; operates 190+ plasma donation centers and multiple fractionation plants; major supplier of IVIG, albumin, and von Willebrand factor to European and US markets
