NHS patients are now receiving medicine made from the blood plasma of Hampshire donors.
This marks the first time in 25 years that plasma is being used to create life-saving medicines for NHS patients, reducing the need for imports.
Plasma, which makes up 55 per cent of our blood, contains antibodies that help stabilise the immune system.
These antibodies are extracted and turned into medicines for people with life-limiting illnesses, such as immune deficiencies.
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It has now been turned into medicines through a lengthy manufacturing process.
The most important of these medicines is immunoglobulin.
In Hampshire, more than 700 people receive immunoglobulin.
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust treated 95 people with immunoglobulin in the last reported year, and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust treated 333.
Blood donors in Hampshire have supplied around 11,200 litres of plasma in total, enough to make about 5,000 bottles of immunoglobulin, which is enough to save or improve the lives of around 140 people over a year.
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The NHS has previously relied solely on imported plasma medicines as a lasting legacy of Variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.
The new supply of UK plasma medicines will bolster supplies to the NHS.
Karen Long from Romsey welcomed the news plasma medicine from Hampshire blood donors is now reaching patients.
She needs immunoglobulin as treatment Stiff Person Syndrome, the same disease that affects Celine Dion.
It’s an incurable, ‘one in a million’ disease that affects the muscle and makes them tense up.
Karen, 54, a make-up artist, said: “I am very thankful the people who donate blood.
“Now the plasma is your blood is also being used to help people like me.
“It gives me a hope – it gives me the chance to see my son flourish and see what a great man he can become.
“If you can start donating blood please do – your red blood cells will help people as normal and now your plasma will save lives too.”
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The donor antibodies help her own immune system temporarily regulate itself.
Dr Susan Walsh, the chief executive officer of Immunodeficiency UK, said: “This is a historic moment – patients from Hampshire can now get lifesaving and life-improving immunoglobulin medicine made from the plasma of UK blood and plasma donors."
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