A World First: A Major Innovation in Blood Transfusion
On February 17, 2026, the Armed Forces Blood Transfusion Centre (CTSA) in Paris, France, received the first veliPod™, a containerized spray dried plasma manufacturing system developed by Velico. This installation marks a significant milestone in decentralized blood product manufacturing and highlights France's leadership in dried plasma innovation, according to Richard Meehan, President and CEO of Velico.
The veliPod™ serves as a modular production facility that houses Velico's FrontlineODP™ spray dried plasma manufacturing system, enabling on-site production. This advancement allows the French military to achieve large-scale production of spray dried plasma, independent of traditional centralized manufacturing and cold chain logistics. Built on a standard shipping container platform, the veliPod™ is designed for rapid deployment to sites such as military bases and blood centers.
Dr. Jean-Jacques Lataillade, Chief Medical Officer and Director of the CTSA, noted that the veliPod™ requires only water and electricity, facilitating production in mobile environments without the need for extensive infrastructure. Spray dried plasma, which can be stored at ambient temperatures and rehydrated for transfusion in under 2.5 minutes, offers a substantial upgrade over conventional plasma, which necessitates strict cold chain management.
Currently, global production of dried plasma remains limited, with less than 50,000 units produced annually. This figure falls significantly short of both civilian and military demand. In contrast, over 10 million units were produced during World War II to meet operational needs, underscoring the necessity for scalable, decentralized manufacturing solutions. Dr. Lataillade stated that the veliPod™ has the potential to produce up to 9,000 units per year.
The successful deployment of the veliPod™ is expected to impact both military and civilian trauma care. Velico's FrontlineODP™ system has shown promising results in clinical trials, indicating a strong safety profile. The French military's adoption of this technology is seen as a major advance in addressing global plasma shortages and positioning France as a leader in domestic plasma production and preparedness efforts.