Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies Supports Expanded Access to Rare Disease Therapies in Latin America
September 16, 2025 – Biotechnology, Drug Delivery, Other, Pharmaceutical – Guillain-Barré syndrome, MedTech, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, automated red blood cell exchange, generalised myasthenia gravis, rare diseases, sickle cell disease, therapeutic plasma exchange
- Regulatory approvals in 14 countries expand treatment options for sickle cell disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenia gravis
- Approvals align with the historic World Health Assembly resolution on rare diseases.
16 September 2025 — Colorado, US — In a significant step toward expanding treatment access for people with rare and chronic diseases in Latin America (LATAM), Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies (Terumo BCT), a global medical technology company, today announced that its Spectra Optia™ Apheresis System has received regulatory approvals for new therapeutic indications in 14 countries across the region. The newly approved treatment indications include sickle cell disease (SCD), Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and myasthenia gravis (MG) — offering clinicians a vital tool in managing these debilitating conditions through automated red blood cell exchange (aRBCX) and therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE).
Global vision, local impact
“Proven therapies are now within reach for thousands of people living with rare and often life-threatening conditions,” said Antoinette Gawin, President and CEO, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies. “These approvals matter — they are a step toward clinical inclusion, establishing a new standard of care in the region and broader health equity.” She added, “And our work isn’t done; our goal is to ensure these therapies are not limited to a few, but integrated into clinical guidelines and hospital protocols and covered by insurance systems.”
A call to action from the WHA resolution
This announcement follows the historic adoption of the first-ever World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution on rare diseases, passed on May 25, 2025. The WHA is the main decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO) and comprises 194 member states. The resolution calls to strengthen efforts around early diagnosis, equitable access and treatment innovation for people living with rare diseases. Terumo BCT’s newly approved therapy indications across Latin America align with this vision — opening new clinical possibilities for underdiagnosed and underserved patient populations in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile*, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. The approvals, granted by health authorities across LATAM, are based on clinical evidence demonstrating how aRBCX and TPE are safe and effective in helping manage the diseases.
About Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies
Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is a medical technology company. Our products, software and services enable customers to collect and prepare blood and cells to help treat challenging diseases and conditions. Our employees worldwide believe in the potential of blood and cells to do even more for patients than they do today. This belief inspires our innovation and strengthens our collaboration with customers. Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies’ customers include blood centers, hospitals, therapeutic apheresis clinics, cell collection and processing organizations, researchers and private medical practices. Our customers are based in over 150 countries across the globe. We have 750+ granted patents, with more than 150 additionally pending. We have global headquarters in Lakewood, Colorado, U.S.A., along with five regional headquarters, eight manufacturing sites and six innovation and development centers across the globe. Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies is a subsidiary of Terumo Corporation (TSE: 4543), a global leader in medical technology. Visit: www.terumobct.com.
