While plasma and plasma-derived therapies are now much-discussed as a potential treatment for COVID-19, rare disease patients have long relied on this type of medicine. In 2018, the Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (PPTA) launched a video campaign called “How Is Your Day?” with the support of CSL Behring and PPTA's other global member companies. Its objectives were to differentiate plasma protein therapies from traditional pharmaceuticals and to showcase the value they provide to individuals with rare and serious conditions.
This video features Frank Willersinn, a patient who lives in Belgium and has the rare disease Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Disorder, which affects the lungs. Sometimes, patients need supplementary oxygen, which can limit their mobility.
Willersinn, who runs an eco-friendly painting business in Belgium, says a need for oxygen would hamper his ability to work the way he wants to. That’s why he says he’s grateful for plasma-based therapies that allow him to live life to the fullest.
See more of Willersinn’s story here:
The “How Is Your Day?” campaign offers information about the diseases treated by plasma protein therapeutics and emphasizes the essential role played by plasma donors. By explaining a vast majority of these therapies are derived from plasma, the campaign shows that plasma donors save lives every day. Looking ahead to 2020 and beyond, the PPTA plans to expand the campaign's outreach. Learn more by following the campaign's Facebook and Twitter accounts
