AABB Joins Inaugural Steering Committee of Blood and Cells Advocacy Roster

AABB has joined a group of stakeholders in the blood therapy and cell and gene therapy (CGT) sectors to launch the Blood and Cells Advocacy Roster (BCAR), a new industry consortium aimed at improving patient access to advanced therapies.

BCAR launched as a think tank and speaker advocacy group to leverage the blood community’s established infrastructure and expertise to improve donor material access, reduce manufacturing costs, and enhance the availability of life-saving therapies. As demand for CGTs continues to grow, BCAR will propose solutions to address challenges such as source variability, donor access limitations, and capacity issues within health care systems.

“In the U.S., fewer than 5% of hospitals have the experience and capabilities needed to manage and administer advanced cellular therapies. This means that, even under the best conditions, the vast majority of patients cannot access these treatments,” said Jeff Wren, AABB’s vice president of biotherapies. “Community blood centers have been true partners to hospitals, supporting established cell therapies such as blood transfusions and hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Today, they possess the capacity, expertise, and reach to accelerate treatment access across communities, along with a culture of urgency to meet patient needs in a rapidly changing market.”

In addition to AABB, the inaugural BCAR steering committee includes representatives from BioBridge Global, Blood Centers of America, OrganaBio, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies and Vitalant. The group plans to expand its membership over the next year to foster global collaboration and share best practices.

BCAR will host its first roundtable discussion on Jan. 22 during Phacilitate’s Advanced Therapies Week. The roundtable will focus on how the blood industry can function as a “network of networks” to support CGT development and accessibility.