Baxter and Sanquin to collaborate on plasma therapy provision

Baxter has announced a new collaboration with the Netherlands-based Stichting Sanquin Bloedvoorziening that will help to expand its ability to deliver plasma-derived treatments.

The manufacturing services agreement will provide Baxter with up to 1.6 million litres of incremental plasma fractionation capacity annually, helping the company to meet growing global demand for these therapies.

Sanquin will receive a fixed fee to fractionate plasma used for medications to treat immune disorders, haemophilia, trauma and other critical conditions, with the initial ten-year agreement set to see production commencing in 2014.

This will aid Baxter in the production of treatments such as Kiovig and Flexbumin.

Dr Ludwig Hantson, president of Baxter's bioscience business, said: "Our collaboration with Sanquin is an important step in addressing both the near and long-term needs of the patient community."

This comes after the company announced last month that Kiovig has been approved in the US for the treatment of multifocal motor neuropathy.