Drones Deliver Freeze-Dried Plasma to Ukraine's Front-Line Wounded
Aurora, Colo. – September 23, 2026 -- Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz report a 100% 24-hour survival rate among 26 Ukrainian military personnel who received drone-delivered freeze-dried plasma at the point of injury, a preliminary finding from an ongoing study testing whether unmanned aircraft can bring blood products to critically injured patients before conventional evacuation reaches them.
Drones carry Octapharma-donated plasma to front-line medics in Ukraine
The freeze-dried plasma, donated by global pharmaceutical company Octapharma, is packaged for transport and flown by drone to medical teams operating near the point of injury. Unlike fresh frozen plasma, which requires freezing and thawing, the freeze-dried version can be stored at room temperature and prepared rapidly for administration, addressing a logistical barrier the FDA has identified for battlefield, remote and disaster settings.