Cord Blood Registry Reports a Significant Increase in Number of Children Needing Access to Their Own Cord Blood Stem Cells for Treatment
Company Anticipates Trend to Accelerate in 2008
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - February 7, 2008 - Cord Blood Registry (CBR), the world's largest and most experienced cord blood stem cell bank, announced today that for the second year in a row, a record number of cord blood stem cell collections stored at CBR have been needed for medical use by the individual child from whom they were collected (also called self-use or autologous use). In 2007, a total of 16 cord blood collections stored at CBR were requested for medical use, 11 of which (or 69%) were used for autologous infusion: seven for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, three for children with juvenile diabetes and one with a rare immune system disorder.
Blood from the umbilical cord contains a diverse population of stem cells that have shown an ability to differentiate into almost all of the types of cells that comprise the human body. Cord blood stem cells are increasingly being used in treatments for a wide range of diseases and medical conditions to save and enhance lives.
The company also announced today that it anticipates this trend to accelerate and reports that in the last 30 days, more than 30 current clients have initiated the process for potential release of their collection for medical use in 2008. Of these 30 cases, a total of eight are in the process of being evaluated for infusion in the first quarter. Six of these eight cases are for autologous use.
"CBR is increasingly playing an important and unique role in connecting children whose cord blood stem cells we've processed and stored, with physicians and medical researchers who are evaluating the use of a child's own cord blood stem cells to treat conditions that impact millions of Americans each year like juvenile diabetes, cerebral palsy and brain injury," said Tom Moore, chief executive officer of CBR. "We believe that autologous use of cord blood stem cells will prove to be an important component in changing how these conditions are managed in the future. Our role - and what distinguishes us from public banks that make donated samples available for public use - is that we guarantee every individual will have access to his or her own cord blood stem cells so they can benefit from autologous use in regenerative therapy if it is ever needed."
A scientific analysis published last quarter in Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy estimates that as many as 1 in 3 individuals in the U.S. (or 128 million people) could benefit over their lifetime from applications of regenerative medicine - the use of one's own stem cells to repair or replace damaged or diseased tissue. Research is also continuing to focus on cord blood as a preferred source of stem cells, because they have demonstrated pluripotency -- the ability to develop into almost all of the cell types in the body.
About Cord Blood Registry
Cord Blood Registry® (CBR®) is the world's largest and most experienced stem cell bank. The company founded the CBR Center for Regenerative MedicineSM to support and advance medical research in regenerative treatments and help to link client families with clinical researchers with trials currently in place or on the horizon. CBR has consistently led the industry in technical innovations and safeguards more than 400,000 cord blood and cord tissue collections for individuals and their families. The company was the first family bank accredited by AABB and the company's quality standards have been recognized through ISO 9001:2008 certification—the global business standard for quality. CBR also has released more client cord blood units for specific therapeutic use than any other family cord blood bank. For more information, visit www.cordblood.com.
