Approval for UK plasma to be used for further life-saving medicines

16 July 2026

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) welcomes the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announcement on approving the use of UK-donated plasma for 5 additional plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs), marking another important milestone in the UK's journey towards a more resilient supply of life-saving medicines.

The decision, announced on 9 July 2026, follows an assessment of the potential risk of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease (vCJD) where independent experts concluded that the risk of transmission through these products is negligible.

The newly approved medicines are:

  • Fibrinogen
  • Prothrombin Complex Concentrates (PCCs)
  • C1 Esterase Inhibitor
  • Factor X
  • Protein C


Plasma proteins from donated human blood can be used to make these key PDMPs, which are typically given to critically ill patients to replace or restore vital plasma proteins and help treat or prevent serious diseases, bleeding, infections, and other conditions where the body’s natural plasma components are missing, deficient, or not functioning properly in the body. This includes patients with conditions such as bleeding disorders, neurological and autoimmune diseases, liver disease, or sepsis.

A precautionary ban on the use of UK-sourced plasma for manufacturing these medicines has been in place since 1999, requiring reliance on imported plasma at a time of growing global demand. Restrictions have been lifted for immunoglobulin and human albumin products in 2021 and 2023 respectively, meaning these are already being manufactured from UK-donated plasma.

This latest MHRA decision expands the range of medicines that can be produced using UK plasma and supports the wider ambition of reducing reliance on imported plasma-derived medicinal products. It is also another demonstration of the trust and confidence placed in the quality and safety of UK plasma, as well as the expertise of the teams across NHS Blood and Transplant who help make these treatments possible.

Statements

Dr Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer, said:

"Patient safety is our top priority and we will always take precautionary measures where there is any possibility of risk to public health.

"Having thoroughly reviewed the evidence, we are now confident that the risk of using plasma from UK donors is negligible, ensuring these potentially life-saving products will become available to those who need them."

Gerry Gogarty, Director of Blood and Plasma supply at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:

"This announcement is another significant step which highlights the trust and confidence in UK plasma and our ability to create a more resilient UK supply of plasma medicines.

"These life-changing treatments are only possible thanks to our incredible blood and plasma donors. As the UK’s ambition to increase plasma medicines production grows, we need more regular donors to ensure these vital treatments are available to every patient who depends on them.

"We urge people to come forward and help us continue to grow and boost our supplies."

How you can help

Use our website to find out more, book an appointment, or register as a blood or plasma donor, download the NHS Give Blood app or call 0300 123 23 23.