Patient’s visit to Springe reminds us all why we make products that matter

When Nicol walked around Octapharma’s production site in Springe, Germany, she wasn’t just touring a facility – she was stepping into the heart of the place that helps keep her alive.

“I want you to know,” she said to the gathered employees, her voice steady but full of emotion, “you really are my life savers. And my son’s. All of you.”

Her words landed with impact. For the employees at Springe, Nicol’s visit brought something rare into the clean rooms and corridors: a living, breathing reminder of why they do what they do.

From crisis to clarity

Nicol, 55, is a mother of two. Her journey dealing with Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) began not with her own symptoms but with her son’s. As a teenager, he became critically ill. At one point, doctors feared he had leukemia. In 2021, he was admitted to intensive care while the family endured a long and uncertain wait for answers.

Eventually, a clear diagnosis of CVID was given. The specific genetic mutation responsible for this disease had only been identified in 2015 – explaining why it took so long for doctors to connect the dots. Following her son’s diagnosis, Nicol was tested too. It emerged that she too has CVID, as does her father. Her daughter, however, does not carry the gene.

Understanding CVID and its genetic complexity

CVID is one of the more frequently occurring primary immunodeficiency disorders, affecting approximately 1 in 25,000 individuals. It is characterised by abnormally low levels of serum immunoglobulins (antibodies), leading to increased susceptibility to infections. The term “variable” reflects the wide range of immunoglobulin deficiencies and clinical manifestations observed from person to person. CVID affects both men and women, and while many individuals are not diagnosed until their third or fourth decade of life, around 20% show symptoms or are identified as immunodeficient during childhood. Typically, individuals with CVID have a normal number of B cells—the immune cells responsible for antibody production. However, these B cells fail to mature properly into plasma cells, which are essential for producing the full spectrum of immunoglobulins needed in the bloodstream and bodily secretions, such as in the airways.

The genetic causes of CVID are largely unknown. Although recent research has identified an expanding list of implicated genes in certain individuals, most known cases have been historically linked to autosomal recessive inheritance. More recently, autosomal dominant forms are increasingly being recognised. Many patients – like Nicol and her son – only receive clarity after years of misdiagnosis or incomplete testing.

In the early days following her diagnosis, Nicol had support and guidance from the German patient organisation dsai, who helped her understand the condition more clearly and provided a vital source of knowledge and reassurance during a confusing and uncertain time.

Back home and in control

Today, thanks to plasma-derived immunoglobulin therapy, Nicol leads what she calls a “more or less normal life”. She goes to concerts, and enjoys spending time with friends and family. Members of her support network, moved by her experience, have even begun to donate plasma.

Nicol is currently on Octapharma's subcutaneous immunoglobulin product that she self-administers at home. This treatment allows injections at intervals ranging from every day to every other week, removing the need for frequent travel to infusion clinics or hospitals and significantly improving her quality of life and treatment adherence.

Immunoglobulin therapy is available for intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) administration. IV treatments are usually done at hospitals or infusion clinics every 3 to 4 weeks, while subcutaneous injections can be done at home by the patient, offering more independence and reducing the need for frequent hospital visits.

Putting a face to our vision

The idea of inviting Nicol to Springe came from the site’s General Manager, Serdar Baris, who wanted employees to see the impact of their work firsthand. “Our people know they’re producing high-quality therapies,” he says, “but sometimes we all need to be reminded that we’re creating products that matter.”

During her visit, Nicol toured the plasma fractionation areas, saw the advanced purification technologies, and learned how strict quality controls ensure safety and consistency in every batch. More importantly, she met the people behind the process – technicians and operators whose work enables her to live life well. “You don’t just manufacture medicine,” she told them. “You give people like me the chance to live again.”

Nicol’s words echo Octapharma’s long-term ambitions. As part of the company’s strategy, increasing access to life-changing treatments is a core priority. Whether it’s through expanding manufacturing capacity, investing in research, or improving diagnosis via education and digital tools, the goal remains the same: reach more patients, more reliably, around the world.

A person behind every vial

The visit put a human face to our ambition, reminding the Springe team that behind the machines, metrics and manufacturing methods, their work is, at the end of the day, deeply human. It is part of a global mission—to deliver products that matter to people who need them most.

“When she said we were her life savers, I immediately got goose bumps,” admits Silvia Heilemann, HR Business Partner & Specialist Development “It reminded me what a great job we’re doing here at Octapharma. And we’re all part of it.”

“We focus on precision every day,” says David Beume, Shift Manager BAS_II. “But meeting Nicol reminded me that there’s a real person behind every vial. It’s quite humbling.”

A shared sense of purpose

When, at the end of her visit, Nicol stood and spoke to the gathered employees, she offered something rare: not just gratitude, but perspective.

“Every day that I wake up and get to be a mum, a friend, a person with plans—it’s thanks to you.”

And for a team that spends their days working behind the scenes, there was no better reminder of why their work truly matters.

Speaking after the visit, Celin Sondermann, Communications & Employer Branding Specialist at Springe, said: “Thank you to everyone who participated in Nicol’s visit and made her feel welcome. It meant a great deal to her to see the level of interest and compassion she encountered. Nicol’s story reminds all of us of the lives behind the vials and the meaning behind our mission. To Nicol, I would like to extend very sincere thanks for her courage, her openness, and for showing us the true spirit behind what we do.”