CSL Plasma’s rapid expansion in Puerto Rico now includes a donation center in the capital city, San Juan.
In February, local officials and representatives of the health care community celebrated the San Juan opening, the fourth CSL Plasma donation center to open on the island in just over a year. More than 300,000 people live in the coastal city, a hub for tourism and business.
Plasma collected at nearly 350 CSL Plasma centers is used by CSL Behring for the sole purpose of manufacturing lifesaving plasma-derived therapies for people in more than 100 countries. In December 2023, CSL Plasma opened its first donation center in Ponce. Two more centers followed in 2024 in Loiza and Toa Baja. CSL leaders, who are planning two more centers on the island, believe it’s an important place to be.
“Our donors make it possible for people around the world who have rare and serious diseases, including fellow Puerto Ricans, to receive the plasma-derived therapies they depend on,” said Stephen Marlow, Senior Vice President and General Manager of CSL Plasma.
CSL CEO and Managing Director Paul McKenzie visited the island in June. He was there to celebrate the launch of the CSL Plasma center in Toa Baja alongside local Mayor Bernardo Márquez García, members of local patient communities and other community leaders.
“Plasma can come only from those heroes willing to donate. It cannot be manufactured.” McKenzie said.
Plasma, an amber-colored component of human blood, contains important proteins, including antibodies and blood clotting factor. These proteins are needed as medicines for people who have conditions such as primary immunodeficiencies, a group of diseases that make people more vulnerable to serious infections, and hemophilia. Plasma also contains albumin, a protein used to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), jaundice in premature infants, burns, bleeding and other severe injuries.
In June, McKenzie underscored that CSL Plasma aims to be a positive force for the local economy and the community. CSL Plasma Puerto Rico has invested more than $25 million to date in preparing for, opening and operating the four centers. Each center contributes about $4 million or more to the local economy. The San Juan center will create 50 new jobs when fully staffed.
CSL Plasma centers in Puerto Rico employ medical staff, nurses, reception technicians, donor service technicians, plasma processing technicians, center management and quality personnel. As they launch the new centers, the staff is working to develop close community relationships in Puerto Rico by participating in health fairs and helping to spread the word about the importance of plasma donation.
At the event in June, Blanca Imbert, President of Puerto Rico’s Alliance for Primary Immunodeficiency (APIP), said she viewed the plasma centers as signs of hope for patients who live with immune deficiencies. At donation centers, the process begins "that gives us access to treatments that not only improve our health, but allow us to move forward with our lives, with our loved ones and with our dreams."
Hemophilia patient Anthony Llanes, Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Hemophilia Association, attended the opening in June 2024 and shared his experience growing up with hemophilia. He said the challenges he faced motivate him to tell younger patients about the importance of access to therapies and proper disease management.
To donate plasma, a person must be in good health, between the ages of 18 and 65, weigh at least 110 pounds and meet other eligibility requirements. Donors in Puerto Rico receive a stipend to cover reasonable costs, such as transportation.
Learn more about CSL Plasma’s donation centers in Puerto Rico.
