Proposed California Legislation Seeks to Increase Access to Plasma-Derived Medicines

Rare Daily Staff

Rare disease advocates say there is an “urgent need” for more plasma donations in California and are calling on lawmakers to pass an assembly bill they say will increase access to plasma-derived medicines.

The California Rare Disease Access Coalition, Hemophilia Council of California, and Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association, in a virtual press briefing, called for passage of Assembly Bill 725, legislation introduced by Assemblymember José Luis Solache, Jr., a Democrat from Lynwood.

Among other things, the legislation would authorize a source plasma donation center to offer payment to a donor of money.

Plasma and the medicines derived from it are essential resources that are life-changing and lifesaving for those living with complex and rare conditions, including primary immunodeficiencies, hereditary angioedema, Kawasaki disease, von Willebrand disease, and more. In California, each of the nearly 70 plasma donation centers statewide employs between 50 to 70 highly skilled workers and contribute more than $4 million annually to local economies — totaling more than $270 million statewide.

AB 725 will update the state’s regulatory framework to align with modern technology, ensuring that plasma centers can operate more efficiently and meet the growing demand for plasma. These regulatory reforms would boost California’s role as a leader in plasma donation and manufacturing.

“As more people are diagnosed with rare and chronic conditions, the urgent need for plasma donations and plasma-derived medicines continues to grow,” said Anita Brikman, president and CEO, Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association. “AB 725 is an opportunity for California to support the entire plasma ecosystem, from donors and healthcare professionals to patients who rely on these life-saving therapies. By addressing barriers to source plasma donation, AB 725 will increase access and help ensure a robust supply of life-saving medicines for future generations.”

The challenges faced by people relying on these therapies are shared by many people living with rare and chronic conditions, the groups said.

“The reality is that many serious conditions, including hemophilia and von Willebrand disease, rely on plasma donations for individualized treatment options. Without a strong plasma donation network, patients are at risk of losing timely access to life-saving therapies,” said Lynne Kinst, executive director of the Hemophilia Council of California and founder, California Rare Disease Access Coalition. “Increasing plasma donations is not just a policy decision — it is a commitment to protecting the health and wellbeing of our friends, coworkers, neighbors, and loved ones.”

“At the end of the day, AB 725 is about real people. It’s about patients who depend on plasma-derived medicines to survive,” concluded Brikman. “It’s about the donors who selflessly give their time. And, it’s about ensuring that California’s laws support progress, not hinder it.”