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Cord Blood Registry Achieves Industry-Leading Stem Cell Recovery With New
Automation Technology; Collaboration with GE Healthcare and ThermoGenesis
(R) Enhances CBR's Proprietary CellAdvantage(TM) System
PR Newswire (U.S.)
7 February 2007
SAN BRUNO, Calif., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Cord Blood Registry(R) (CBR) today
announced that it has completed initial validation testing of the company's
proprietary CellAdvantage(TM) system using new automation technology for
cell processing, developed by ThermoGenesis and distributed by GE
Healthcare. The new technology, called the AXP AutoXpress(TM) Platform
(AXP(TM)), is the industry's first functionally-closed, automated cord blood
stem cell processing technology.
The FDA-required validation testing demonstrated that CBR's CellAdvantage
system can meet or exceed the company's current mononucleated cell (MNC) --
or stem cell -- recovery rate of 98 percent, which is the highest published
cell recovery rate in the industry. CBR will present data results at an
upcoming medical meeting.
"Achieving these extremely high cell recovery rates through automation is a
very significant advancement for our company and for the families we serve,"
said Tom Moore, chief executive officer of CBR. "Our business is
experiencing dramatic growth as expectant parents increasingly choose to
preserve their baby's cord blood stem cells with us. By integrating AXP
automation technology into our CellAdvantage system, CBR is the only family
bank that will be able to increase our cell processing capacity and at the
same time maintain or exceed our industry-leading cell recovery rates."
Cord Blood Registry is the first and only family cord blood bank to adopt
this cutting-edge technology and offer it to consumers who wish to
cryopreserve their own genetically-related stem cells for future therapeutic
use. The world's largest public donation bank, The New York Blood Center,
has also adopted AXP processing.
"In our selection process, we closely evaluated the two automated cell
processing systems available on the market," said Moore. "We determined that
only AXP can deliver cell recovery rates that can exceed our current cell
separation process and do so consistently."
Published studies on the other system CBR evaluated, SEPAX, show mean MNC
cell recovery rates ranging from 77.4 percent to 87.7 percent with a
variability ranging from +/- 9.72 percent to +/- 27.8 percent.
"This data did not meet CBR quality standards and fell short of our current
capabilities," said Moore. "We have only one chance to process these cells
and every family needs to know that they can expect to get the highest
possible cell recovery and quality when they bank with CBR. Studies have
correlated survival rates and improved outcomes with the number of stem
cells used in therapy."
How the cells are stored was another important criteria in CBR's selection
of AXP.
"The AXP technology uses a next-generation cryobag for storage that is
constructed with a blow-molded process that eliminates seams," said Phil
Coelho, chief executive officer of ThermoGenesis. "A seamless storage bag is
important because it greatly improves the integrity of the bag and
significantly decreases the potential for breakage that has been documented
to occur in traditional seamed-plastic storage bags."
"We are proud of our track record of quality and innovation in the family
cord blood banking industry," said Moore. "CBR is pleased to partner with GE
Healthcare and ThermoGenesis on creating a cell processing system that sets
the standard for others to follow."
About Cord Blood Stem Cells
The blood remaining in an umbilical cord immediately after birth is a rich
source of stem cells (cord blood stem cells) that can be collected easily
and painlessly without risk to the newborn or mother. Cord blood stem cells
have been used therapeutically for nearly 20 years and in more than 10,000
transplants worldwide. Today, they are used successfully to treat a wide
range of blood diseases, genetic and metabolic disorders, immunodeficiencies
and certain forms of cancer. A number of medical research studies have
demonstrated that cord blood stem cells are able to differentiate into
multiple cell types and may have potential use in regenerative medical
therapies, such as treating diabetes, cardiac disease and several
neurological disorders.
About Cord Blood Registry
Cord Blood Registry (CBR) is a registered trademark of Cbr Systems, Inc.,
the largest cord blood stem cell processing and cryopreservation service for
familial use in transplantation and regenerative medicine. Accredited by
AABB, Cord Blood Registry preserves cord blood stem cells for more than
160,000 newborns throughout the world. CBR has released more than 45 client
cord blood samples for specific therapeutic use, more than any other family
cord blood bank. The company's research and development is focused on
advancing the collection, processing, and storage methods 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 http://www.CordBlood.com .
About ThermoGenesis
ThermoGenesis Corp. (Nasdaq: KOOL) is a leader in developing and
manufacturing automated blood processing systems and disposable products
that enable the manufacture, preservation and delivery of cell and tissue
therapy products. GE Healthcare is the exclusive global distribution partner
for ThermoGenesis' AXP AutoXpress Platform. For more information about
ThermoGenesis, visit http://www.thermogenesis.com .
About GE Healthcare
GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services
that are shaping a new age of patient care. The company's broad range of
products and services enable healthcare providers to better diagnose and
treat cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases and other conditions
earlier. The company's vision for the future is to enable a new "early
health" model of care focused on earlier diagnosis, pre-symptomatic disease
detection and disease prevention. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE
Healthcare is a $17 billion unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE).
Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 46,000 people committed to
serving healthcare professionals and their patients in more than 100
countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, visit
http://www.gehealthcare.com .
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