Latest news with #bloodplasma
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Unpacking claim Canada PM Carney tied to sale of donated plasma to foreign company
In August 2025, a rumor began to spread that donated blood plasma had been sold for profit to a foreign company. That foreign company was the target of a takeover attempt by a Canadian fund to which Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney had ties, the rumor claimed. For example, an Aug. 13, 2025, a post on X shared a video in which a man exposed the alleged scheme (archived): The post had gained 305,000 views and 10,000 likes as of this writing. The same video appeared on Facebook. Further, Snopes readers searched the website seeking to confirm the veracity of the claim. In the video, the man claimed this was "one of the biggest scandals of the year." He went on to explain that a charitable organization known as Canadian Blood Services had sold donated plasma to Spanish pharmaceutical company Grifols, which had then resold it for profit. Grifols, the man said, had been the target of a second takeover attempt by Canadian fund Brookfield Asset Management in April 2025 (the first one occurred in late 2024). He added that Carney had "significant personal investments in Brookfield," which he suggested posed a conflict of interest for the prime minister. As outlined below, we were able to confirm that Grifols discussed selling a byproduct of plasma in China. We were able to verify that Grifols had indeed been the target of a takeover attempt from Brookfield, to which Carney has ties. However, we did not receive direct confirmation that Grifols was selling specifically albumin made from Canadian plasma abroad, or that Carney had any involvement with this matter. We have therefore left the claim unrated. The Globe and Mail report The claim stemmed from an investigative report by the right-leaning newspaper The Globe and Mail. Published on Aug. 12, 2025, the report said Grifols was "selling medicine abroad" made from blood plasma donated to Canadian Blood Services. Snopes was able to confirm Grifols partnered with CBS in 2022 to help Canada achieve "at least 50% Ig [immunoglubolin] self-sufficiency for Canadians." In June 2023, Grifols announced that it was also partnering with Canadian Plasma Resources to "secure plasma supplies" in Canada. "Production is exclusively for Canadian Blood Services and Canadian patients," Grifols' statement read. Immunoglobulins are made from plasma and are used for a variety of therapeutic needs, including in case of immunodeficiency. The Globe and Mail also cited CBS CEO Graham Sher as saying, "None of the plasma that will be collected through this transaction can be sold offshore," including "none of the product made from plasma." Sher had reportedly said these words in 2022. However, despite this promise, The Globe and Mail said Grifols had been making albumin in Montreal from a byproduct of the manufacturing of immunoglobulins and selling it abroad. Albumin is a protein used therapeutically to manage blood volume, for example. The publication cited a call Grifols CEO Nacho Abia had hosted on the occasion of the earnings report for the second quarter of 2025. Snopes found the transcript of the call and was able to verify that Abia said Grifols' plant in Montreal was now producing albumin. He also discussed China's need for the product. We contacted Grifols asking whether it was selling albumin made from Canadian plasma to China and other countries. We will update this report should they respond. The Globe and Mail then cited CBS as saying that Canada's albumin needs were already met, and that the albumin produced in Montreal would otherwise go to waste. CBS added that this product benefited Grifols' patients abroad, the report said. However, the newspaper added that CBS had said this in an "unsigned statement." "None of the plasma collected at Canadian Blood Services' donation centres is being used to make medicine that is being sold in other countries, including albumin," CBS told Snopes in an email, contradicting the Globe report. "Blood and plasma that is collected by Canadian Blood Services is used exclusively for Canadian patients." The organization also referred Snopes to an Aug. 13, 2025, statement it posted on its website in response to The Globe and Mail report. But the online CBS statement includes a few sentences that appeared to reiterate the quote attributed to them in the Globe report (emphasis ours): Canadian Blood Services has been meeting Canada's demand for albumin so we agreed in early 2025 that, as a prudent measure, we would sell Grifols the byproducts that are leftover when immunoglobulins are manufactured from plasma Grifols collects on our behalf in Canada. These byproducts would otherwise be discarded. Instead Grifols can use the byproducts to create albumin which will help patients in other countries, because Canada's needs for these medicines are already being met. Canada benefits from this, as the sale of the byproducts to Grifols offsets the cost Canadian Blood Services pays for immunoglobulins manufactured by Grifols. We asked what CBS made of this apparent contradiction. We also contacted The Globe and Mail to inquire about their understanding of the situation. We will update this story should one or both of them respond. The Conservatives' letter Following the conservative publication's report, Conservative lawmakers on the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health sent a letter to committee Chair Hedy Fry, a Liberal from British Columbia, calling for an investigation into the matter. Dan Mazier, a Conservative from Manitoba and Shadow Minister of Health, posted the letter on X (archived): In this letter, the Conservative members of Parliament expressed concern that Grifols had been the target of a takeover attempt by Brookfield Asset Management, a Canadian fund to which Carney has ties. "Given Mark Carney's significant personal investments in Brookfield, we are further concerned about the Prime Minister's potential financial conflict-of-interests in this matter," the letter read. Indeed, Grifols had been in talks twice with Brookfield. In November 2024, the company announced it had terminated deal talks with Brookfield. Then again in April 2025, several reports said the family that owns Grifols was discussing a possible $7 billion takeover deal with Brookfield. Snopes was able to verify that Carney did have ties to Brookfield. While he did not own any of its shares outright, a Form 10-K annual report from the company showed he owned $6.8 million in unexercised options to acquire shares of the fund as of Dec. 31, 2024. Carney had also been chair of the board until the day he announced his candidacy to lead the Liberal Party in the 2025 elections. However, after his victory and before he was sworn in as prime minister, Carney put his assets into a blind trust — that is, a trust whose rules preclude the trustee from consulting with Carney on how to invest or divest. On July 10, 2025, the ethics commissioner published the list of Carney's assets in the blind trust. They did include stock options for Brookfield. We have contacted Carney's office asking if he was considering divesting from the company altogether and we will update this report should he respond. "Form 10-K 2024 | Brookfield Asset Management." Jan. 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. "Grifols Board of Directors Announces Termination of Acquisition Discussions with Brookfield." Nov. 2024, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. "Grifols Enters into Agreement with Canadian Blood Services to Accelerate Self-Sufficiency in Immunoglobulins for Canada." Sept. 2022, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. "Grifols Group Enters into Agreement with Canadian Plasma Resources to Secure Plasma Supply in Canada." 2023, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. Hannay, Chris. "Spanish Drugmaker Using Canadian-Donated Blood Plasma for Products Sold Abroad." The Globe and Mail, 12 Aug. 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. "Mark Carney Holdings | Ethics Commissioner." 10 July 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. Reuters Staff. "Grifols in 15-Year Deal with Canada for Plasma-Based Medicines." Reuters, 7 Sept. 2022, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. ---. "Spanish Pharma Company Grifols' Shares up on Brookfield Talk." Reuters, 2 Apr. 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. "The Honourable Hedy Fry - Member of Parliament - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada." 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. Transcript: Grifols Q2 Earnings Call. Grifols, 29 July 2025, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025. Solve the daily Crossword
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Conservatives call for investigation of Spanish drugmakers' use of Canadian-donated blood plasma
Conservative MPs are calling for a parliamentary investigation into Spanish drugmaker Grifols's GIFOF use of Canadian-donated blood plasma to make medicines for sale abroad. The call follows a Globe and Mail investigation that found Canadian Blood Services is selling some blood components to Grifols to manufacture a product called albumin, as part of a complex arrangement between the international pharmaceutical company and the Canadian charity to collect and process blood plasma. Plasma is a straw-coloured fluid in blood used for transfusions and to make therapies such as immunoglobulin, commonly used for people with immune disorders. Both CBS and Grifols collect plasma at donation centres across Canada, and Grifols pays donors while CBS does not. Hamilton rebukes Canadian Blood Services, Grifols over paying for blood plasma donations In a letter sent Wednesday to House of Commons health committee chair Hedy Fry, six Conservative MPs called the details in the story 'troubling.' The letter also references the fact that the private-equity arm of Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. BAM-T explored a bid to buy Grifols last year. At the time of the bid, Mark Carney was chair of the board of Brookfield, one of the world's largest asset managers, but he stepped down in January to pursue the leadership of the Liberal Party and ultimately became Prime Minister. Brookfield said in April it had dropped its bid for Grifols. 'We urge you to recall the Standing Committee on Health to investigate both the use of Canadian-donated plasma by Grifols and the potential conflicts of interest arising from the Prime Minister's investments in Brookfield Asset Management, given its attempts to acquire Grifols,' wrote the letter's signatories, including Conservative shadow health minister Dan Mazier. 'Canadians expect their donated blood plasma to save lives in Canada and not to be turned into profits for foreign companies or the Prime Minister.' The Canadian Health Coalition, a progressive group that advocates for the public health care system, said it also supported the call for a parliamentary investigation. 'I think every member of Parliament deserves an explanation from Canadian Blood Services about the murky details of its agreement with Grifols,' said Steven Staples, the group's national director of policy and advocacy. CBS has had a lengthy association with Grifols. The Spanish drugmaker has been a long-time supplier of immunoglobulin and consulted with CBS on a national plasma-collection strategy before the agency announced a formal partnership in 2022. Under the 15-year agreement, Grifols acts as CBS's 'agent' in Ontario, allowing the company to get around a legal ban on paying for plasma donations. In a statement, Grifols said it is 'proud of our pioneering, long-term agreement with Canadian Blood Services to help Canada reach self-sufficiency in immunoglobulins. We continue to follow the agreement to the letter and deliver on our commitments.' CBS said the partnership was necessary to boost the domestic supply of immunoglobulin, which has faced global shortages. CBS said it currently meets 27 per cent of its plasma needs domestically, compared with 15 per cent before 2022. The agency said Grifols's medicine being sold abroad is made from 'byproducts' of the immunoglobulin manufacturing process, and the arrangement lowers the manufacturing cost to CBS. Plasma therapies make up an enormous share of CBS's annual budget. It spent $913-million on 'plasma protein and related products' last year, according to its 2024 annual report, about 60 per cent of its expenses that year. Nearly all of its revenue comes from provincial and territorial governments.
Globe and Mail
19-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Blood Plasma Market to Witness Strong Growth at 10.8% CAGR, Expected to Hit USD 79.5 Mn by 2032
The trend in the blood plasma industry is characterized by a growing focus on research and development activities to develop novel plasma-derived therapies, increasing collaboration between plasma collection centers and pharmaceutical companies, and the expansion of plasma collection networks worldwide. Additionally, there is a growing emphasis on improving the safety and quality of plasma-derived products through stringent regulatory guidelines and advanced testing methodologies. Blood Plasma Market Insights The blood plasma industry has witnessed robust expansion driven by rising therapeutic demand and advanced manufacturing processes. Experts leverage novel fractionation techniques to meet growing immunoglobulin and albumin requirements, reflecting deep market research and market insights underpinning strategic decisions. The Global Blood Plasma Market size is estimated to be valued at USD 38.8 Mn in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 79.5 Mn by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8% from 2025 to 2032. Market Key Takeaways - Region: - North America: robust regulatory framework and extensive donor networks enhance plasma availability. - Latin America: emerging collection centers in Brazil and Argentina drive capacity expansion. - Europe: strategic investments in fractionation plants support product diversification. - Asia Pacific: growing haemophilia treatment demand in China and India fuels capacity uptake. - Middle East: increasing collaborations improve regional self‐sufficiency in plasma derivatives. - Africa: pilot programs in South Africa strengthen plasma collection infrastructure. - Segment Covers: - Product Type: • Immunoglobulins: high‐volume IVIG therapies for autoimmune disorders. • Albumin: critical care applications in shock treatment. • Clotting Factors: haemophilia A and B management solutions. - Application: • Therapeutics: replacement therapies in immunodeficiency syndromes. • Diagnostics: plasma‐derived reagents for transfusion testing. - End‐User: • Hospitals: primary consumers of albumin and clotting factor concentrates. • Specialty Clinics: immunoglobulin administrations for chronic conditions. Growth Factors: Rising prevalence of immunodeficiency disorders and expanded market scope into recombinant fractions are key market drivers. Global immunoglobulin consumption reached 1,400 tons in 2024, up 8% year-on-year, offering significant market opportunities. Voluntary donor enrollment in North America surged 12% in 2024, driving a 7% uplift in collection volumes. Advanced fractionation capacity—such as the Octapharma Germany facility adding 50,000 L/month in mid-2024—bolstered supply. These drivers present market growth strategies alongside market challenges and restraints, supporting sustainable business growth and a projected 10.8% CAGR through 2032. Book the Latest Edition of this Market Study Get Up to 25 % Discount: Market Trends: Recent market research and market insights reveal accelerated AI-enabled donor screening that reduced deferral rates by 15% in 2024, enhancing supply reliability. Consolidation with regional partners—illustrated by Grifols' 2025 alliance in China—drives consolidation-driven market share shifts. Custom nano-scale chromatography methods achieved a 5% yield gain over conventional fractionation. Pressure from donor deferrals remains a key market restraint, while technological differentiation and regional capacity localization continue to define Blood Plasma Market trends and industry trends. Actionable Insights • Production Capacity: 5.2 M L/month global plasma processing in 2024, supporting an estimated market revenue uplift of USD 2.5 Mn monthly. • Pricing: IVIG average selling price at USD 90/g in Q4 2024, influencing overall market revenue stabilization. • Exports: U.S. plasma exports rose 9% in H2 2024 to 300k L, boosting supplier revenues. • Imports: EU plasma imports grew 11% in Q1 2025, reflecting demand-driven revenue influx. • Use Cases: APAC hospital albumin usage grew 7% in 2024, expanding revenue streams in critical care. • Micro-indicators: emerging nano-fractionation sites ( Key Players: • CSL Behring • Grifols • Takeda Pharmaceutical (formerly Shire) • Octapharma • Kedrion Biopharma • Bio Products Laboratory • LFB Group • Sanquin Plasma Products • China Biologic Products • ADMA Biologics • GC Pharma • CSL Plasma • Emergent BioSolutions • Kamada • Centurion Pharma Get Customization on this Report: Competitive Strategies: • CSL Behring's vertical integration of collection and fractionation in 2024 reduced COGS by 6% and improved margin by 2.3%. • Grifols' alliance with Shandong Weigao expanded plasma centers by 15 sites in China, increasing Asian Blood Plasma Market share. • Takeda's clinical partnerships with rare‐disease clinics in 2024 drove immunoglobulin adoption, boosting U.S. market revenue by 5%. • Kedrion Biopharma's targeted partnerships elevated its industry share among emerging biopharma companies by 3% in 2024. Frequently Asked Questions 1. Who are the dominant players in the Blood Plasma Market? Key players include CSL Behring, Grifols, Takeda, Octapharma, Kedrion Biopharma and others that account for major technological and capacity leadership. 2. What will be the size of the Blood Plasma Market in the coming years? The Blood Plasma Market size is projected to grow from USD 38.8 Mn in 2025 to USD 79.5 Mn by 2032 at a 10.8% CAGR. 3. Which end-user industry has the largest growth opportunity? Hospitals and specialty clinics administering IVIG and clotting factors for immunodeficiency and haemophilia represent the largest growth segments. 4. How will market development trends evolve over the next five years? Trends include AI-driven donor screening, nano-scale fractionation, and regional capacity localization as per the latest Blood Plasma Market report. 5. What is the nature of the competitive landscape and challenges in the Blood Plasma Market? The landscape remains consolidated, with key players pursuing vertical integration, regional alliances and facing donor-recruitment challenges as primary market restraints. 6. What go-to-market strategies are commonly adopted in the Blood Plasma Market? Strategies include strategic partnerships for capacity expansion, targeted clinical collaborations, differentiated fractionation technologies and localized regulatory approvals to drive market opportunities. About Coherent Market Insights Coherent Market Insights leads into data and analytics, audience measurement, consumer behaviors, and market trend analysis. From shorter dispatch to in-depth insights, CMI has exceled in offering research, analytics, and consumer-focused shifts for nearly a decade. With cutting-edge syndicated tools and custom-made research services, we empower businesses to move in the direction of growth. 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