The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the new plasma collection system developed by Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT), a medical technology company.
Rika is a next-generation automated technology focused on the experience of plasma centre employees and donors. It includes safety features to minimise operator errors and collects plasma in 35 minutes or less. Rika will debut this spring in a limited market release at CSL Plasma collection centres in the Denver, Colorado area. Plans are underway for rollout at additional CSL Plasma centres in 2022.
Rika was developed in response to the industry’s need for technological advancement and process improvements to drive efficiency and quality while maintaining donor safety and a sufficient plasma supply.
Investing in the source plasma industry is a natural evolution in the Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies portfolio given its experience in apheresis technology.
Antoinette Gawin, president and chief executive officer, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies said: “Rika will revolutionise plasma collection centre operations. We innovated around the donor and plasma centre experience, creating an entire new ecosystem. At the heart of our innovation is operational efficiency designed to collect plasma in 35 minutes or less. This will help meet the need for plasma-derived therapies. Today, as an example, it could take 130 donations to treat one patient with a primary immunodeficiency for a year. This is such an important moment for us to contribute to society through healthcare and fulfil our purpose of reaching more patients.”
The new technology is focused on donor and plasma collection centre employee experience. A collection time of 35 minutes or less, combined with volume of 200 millilitres or less outside the donor’s body, can mean a more comfortable donation experience. Rika’s control system monitors the process and providing alerts and visual cues that guide the operator. It makes automatic adjustments during each procedure, aiming for a more seamless operator experience and the ability to spend more time with the donor.
Rika is part of an ecosystem that integrates plasma collection technology, IT solutions, services, and program support. All this is anticipated to support centre productivity and efficiency to optimise plasma collections and meet the needs of patients who rely on plasma-derived therapies.
CSL Plasma General Manager Michelle Meyer, said: “With this crucial milestone achieved, we look forward to rolling this new technology out to our U.S. collection centres. CSL Plasma’s decision to work with Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is consistent with our business goals to improve the donor and employee experience through innovation and remain the plasma donation centre of choice.”
