• Octapharma was the first company to apply the Solvent Detergent virus inactivation method to routine production
• Octapharma was the first company to introduce high purity, virus inactivated FVIII and FIX concentrates
• Octapharma was the first company to launch a liquid immunoglobulin preparation
• Octapharma was the first company to introduce a virus inactivated plasma for transfusion
• Octapharma utilises human plasma as the source of all its products
  • Recent studies have vindicated this approach by demonstrating that native active ingredients induce lower rates of adverse reactions than man-made alternatives
• Octapharma only sources plasma through professional suppliers
  
  

3. Which are the key markets for Octapharma?

Octapharma is a company with trade partners throughout the world. While Europe is still the principal market, new business opportunities have been developed in Asia, South America, North America, the Middle East and Russia. Octapharma continues its expansion into new territories and is adding to its geographical coverage: Most recently, we have established Octapharma organisations in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Italy and China.


4. Which services does Octapharma offer?

Octapharma offers a wide range of plasma products and services. These include:

• Sales of finished plasma derivatives. All Octapharma products are developed and manufactured by the company. Plasma for these products is sourced from Austria, Germany, Sweden and the United States only.
  

• Support for self-sufficiency partners. Octapharma supports countries/organisations who practise self-sufficiency to meet their need for plasma products and/or Fresh Frozen Plasma for transfusion (FFP): Plasma from their own region is then shipped to Octapharma and the resulting products are then returned to the country/organisation of origin without any mixing with plasma sourced from other areas. As Octapharma achieves exceptionally high yields of products from each litre of valuable human plasma, we are an ideal partner for countries seeking to achieve self-sufficiency with limited plasma or economic resources.
  

• Technology transfer. Octapharma is internationally recognised for its know-how and skills in the area of plant construction & management, plasma fractionation and yield enhancement. As such, the company offers technology transfer and licensing to reliable partners throughout the world, who applies Octapharma technology to their own plasma product production. Technology transfer includes full “turn-key” solutions as well as specific technology licensing.
  
  

5. What products does Octapharma have?

octaplas^® and octaplasLG^®
Fully pharmaceutically licensed virus-inactivated, standardised Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP). FFP is used to replace clotting factors following major accidents and during surgery as well as for a variety of complex bleeding disorders.

octaplex^®
octaplex^® contains the four coagulation factors, II, VII, IX , X in a ratio close to 1:1:1:1, as well as the inhibitor, protein C, and its cofactor protein S. octaplex^® is indicated for the prophylaxis and treatment of bleeding and hereditary or acquired coagulation defects resulting from isolated prothrombin complex factor deficiency or combined with prothrombin complex deficiency.

wilate^®
wilate^® represents a new generation VWF/FVIII-concentrate for the treatment of von Willebrand Disease (VWD) and haemophilia A.  A significant move forward for patients suffering from VWD, wilate^® raises the standard in the treatment options with respect to its combination of double virus safety, purity and clinical efficacy.

octanate^®
This product are used to prevent and treat bleeding in persons with haemophilia A (deficiency in clotting factors VIII) The double virus inactivation, high purity, excellent tolerability and low immunogenicity are particularly important as haemophilia is a chronic condition in which patients require replacement therapy for life.

octanine F^®, nanotiv^®
These products are used to prevent and treat bleeding in persons with haemophilia B (deficiency in clotting factors IX) The virus inactivation, high purity, excellent tolerability and low immunogenicity ad lack of thrombogenicity are particularly important as haemophilia is a chronic condition in which patients require replacement therapy for life.

octagam^®
octagam^® is a state-of-the-art double virus-inactivated, high purity liquid, Intravenous Immune Globulin (IVIG). octagam^® is used in the prevention and treatment of severe life threatening infections in patients with primary or secondary immune deficiencies disorders such as HIV, or leukaemia. It is also used to modify the immune system in auto-immune conditions such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)The product is supplied in a liquid, ready-to-use form and can be kept at room temperature for two years.

Human, albumin
albumin is a protein solution derived from plasma from which the clotting factors and immunoglobulins have been removed. It is used in patients with low plasma protein levels and unstable fluid balance, i.e. during and after surgery, major burns. albumin is pasteurised.

atenativ^®
atenativ^® - High purity antithrombin concentrate for treatment of coagulation disturbances in connection with inherited and acquired antithrombin deficiency. atenativ^® is virus inactivated through Sovent/Detergent and heat treatment

rhesonativ^®
Anti-D immune globulin is used in Rh-negative women during pregnancy to prevent Rhesus immunisation of the mother and the resulting risk of haemolytic disease of the newborn. Two manufacturing steps contribute to the viral safety off rhesonativ^®: the Cohn fractionation and Solvent/Detergent treatment.

gammanorm^®
gammanorm^® – Solvent/Detergent treated immune globulin for subcutaneous and intramuscular use mainly in patients with primary and secondary immune deficiency


6. Where does the company source its plasma from?

Octapharma obtains plasma as raw material for its products exclusively from carefully selected and approved blood banks in Austria, Germany, Sweden and the USA.

Octapharma applies an exemplary control system: All suppliers are regularly audited and thoroughly investigated by Octapharma Quality Control experts. The teams check quality markers such as correct recording and documentation of donor data, testing methods and observance of legal safety standards. The Octapharma safety standards for suppliers are extremely strict and in many cases surpass national and international legal requirements.


7. Where are Octapharma´s manufacturing facilities located?

Octapharma has production facilities in Vienna, Austria; Lingolsheim, France and Stockholm, Sweden. Octapharma owns a fractionation plant in Mexico that produces products exclusively for the local market. In addition, Octapharma operates the plasma fractionation plant of DRK PVG in Springe, Germany, the blood-fractionation company owned by NSTOB and other German Red Cross Blood Transfusion Services.

The combined annual plasma fractionation capacity of Octapharma´s plants exceeds 3,500,000 litres plasma annually.  Included in this figure is the capacity to produce 110.000 litres SD-treated Plasma.


8. What is the focus of Octapharma's Research & Development and are there new products in the pipeline?

Octapharma remains dedicated to its mission "for the safe and optimal use of plasma". As such, Octapharma will continue to specialise in the continuous improvement of plasma protein products in order to extend its scientific lead and optimise the safety and user-friendliness of its products.

Current Octapharma research projects include alpha-1-antitypsin (A1AT) and a novel recombinant FVIII concentrate.

During the last 7 years Octapharma has also financed research in recombinant protein through a contract research agreement with Octapharma Biopharmaceuticals GmbH in Munich.