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Cord Blood Registry Sees Strong Growth in Charitable Banking Program to Help Family Members Who Need Stem Cell Transplant

Company Ends Third Quarter in Industryıs Strongest Financial Position

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – November 27, 2007 – Cord Blood Registry (CBR), the world’s largest and most experienced cord blood stem cell bank, announced today that its no-cost banking service to help families with a critical medical need, has achieved record growth in 2007, enrolling 35 percent more newborns than last year. CBR’s Designated Transplant Program®, a key component of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts, offers expectant parents the opportunity to bank the cord blood of their newborn at no cost when another family member has been diagnosed with a condition that may require a stem cell transplant.

The first charitable cord blood banking program of its kind, CBR’s Designated Transplant Program was launched in 1996. To date, nearly 2,000 newborns have been enrolled in the program and their cord blood stem cells are ready and immediately available for the designated family member who may need them. Research has shown that cord blood stem cells match more easily with family members than bone marrow, and genetically-related cord blood stem cells lead to better transplant outcomes, including less transplant-related mortality and a lower incidence of medical complications like rejection.

“The growth in our Designated Transplant Program – as well as our overall business – is directly related to education,” said Tom Moore, chief executive officer of CBR. “As more physicians educate expectant parents about the medical benefits of cord blood stem cells, more lives can be saved. Our mission is to ensure that every family has access to genetically-related cord blood stem cells, especially when there is a defined medical need. Many cancers and blood disorders can be triggered unexpectedly by environmental factors, so when this occurs, we want to help ensure the family has access to related cord blood stem cells if they can be used for treatment.”

For a family to qualify for the program, the designated recipient of the cord blood stem cells must be diagnosed with a disease currently treated with a stem cell transplant and be a first- or second-degree blood relative to the newborn (sibling, half-sibling, parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle). Additionally, the recipient’s physician must verify that the stem cells may be used for treatment. For qualified families, Cord Blood Registry will process and store the cord blood stem cells of the newborn in the family at no cost until they are needed for transplant. There is no limit to how many newborns can enroll in the program each year.

“Our business is the strongest it’s ever been – and the strongest in the industry – in large part to our relentless focus on quality,” said Moore. “We ended the third quarter of 2007 with the highest revenues and largest cash reserves in our history. In addition, we have shown a consistent ability over the last eight years to generate profits from operations. The strength of our core business affords us a broad ability to give back to those in need.”

About Cord Blood Registry
Cord Blood Registry® (CBR®) is the largest cord blood stem cell processing and cryopreservation service for familial use in transplantation and regenerative medicine and the most recommended cord blood bank by obstetricians. Accredited by AABB, Cord Blood Registry preserves cord blood stem cells for more than 195,000 newborns throughout the world. CBR has released more than 60 client cord blood units for specific therapeutic use, more than any other family cord blood bank. The company's research and development efforts are focused on advancing the medical therapies involving cord blood stem cells as well as the collection, processing and storage technologies to optimize quality and cell yield. Additionally, CBR facilitates collection of donated samples, available for research programs worldwide that are focused on stem cell expansion and other cell-based therapies. For more information about CBR, visit www.CordBlood.com

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