As part of their well-established partnership, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Japanese pharmaceutical firm Takeda have announced a new joint initiative focused on strengthening countries’ healthcare systems to meet patients’ need for plasma and plasma-derived therapies.

The initiative will draw on UNITAR’s expertise in training and education toward the development of innovative solutions to global challenges and Takeda’s deep knowledge of rare disease and the plasma ecosystem.

Global demand for plasma has greatly increased over the past 20 years and is continuing to grow due to increasing numbers of patients with rare diseases being diagnosed, as well as higher standards of care and broader access to treatment globally. This demand for life-changing and life-sustaining plasma-derived therapies far exceeds available supply, resulting in more people around the world struggling to access the treatments they need, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

The overall goal of this initiative is to create a neutral, UN-based platform that will bring together experts, policymakers, patient organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector. Through increasing awareness, building partnerships and facilitating access to the latest scientific knowledge and best practices, this platform aims to support countries in finding their own tailored solutions on how to improve the quality of life and life expectancy of patients who rely on plasma-derived therapies. The project will also focus on complementing and finding synergies with other existing initiatives to improve plasma ecosystems and increase patient access to care.