Zika
no threat to plasma-derived drugs, says EU regulator
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[September 21, 2016]
LONDON (Reuters) - Patients who take
medicines derived from blood plasma or urine are not at increased risk
of catching Zika, even if the body fluids come from countries where the
virus is prevalent, Europe's drugs regulator said on Wednesday.
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Plasma-derived products are used to treat some serious blood
conditions and to help fight infections, while urine-based medicines
include certain hormone treatments and therapies to help break up
blood clots.
The European Medicines Agency, Europe's equivalent of the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA), said its experts had assessed the
risks and concluded that manufacturing processes used for such
products would inactivate or remove the Zika virus.
This includes the use of solvents or detergents, pasteurisation and
filtration.
Health authorities are currently taking extra care with whole blood
donations. Last month, the FDA recommended that all blood donations
be tested for Zika in a drive to prevent transmission of the virus
through the blood supply.
(Reporting by Ben Hirschler. Editing by Jane Merriman)
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