Ethiopia Pushes to Build Domestic Plasma Products Capacity

By Mintesinot Nigussie  |  September 16, 2026

Ethiopia is seeking to build domestic capacity to develop plasma-derived medicines and other high-value blood products as the country moves to expand its blood and tissue services beyond collection and storage.

The Ethiopia Blood and Tissue Bank Service (EBTBS) has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) covering joint research, capacity building, innovation and product development.

The partnership will focus on turning donated blood into higher-value medical products, including plasma-derived medicines, blood components, tissue and stem cell banking and related cellular therapy services.

Among the products targeted for domestic development and evaluation are plasma-derived treatments such as IVIG-PR, which the institutions say are not readily available on the local market. The agreement is also intended to strengthen the country's capacity to monitor transfusion-transmissible infections and conduct clinical trials.

EBTBS will contribute its expertise in blood collection, plasma quality and service delivery, while AHRI will provide research and laboratory infrastructure, scientific expertise, good manufacturing practice capacity, training and technology-transfer capabilities.

The two institutions will conduct joint research on blood services and products, with the findings intended to support policy development, regulation and service planning.

Source: FSX Business News