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Africa to Open First Human Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank
Xinhua News Agency
12 June 2005
JOHANNESBURG, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Africa's first human cord blood stem cell bank will be open for business in the South African coastal city of Cape Town from September 1 this year, according to a statement from Lazaron Biotechnologies on Sunday.
From September, parents will be able to "bank" umbilical cord blood collected from their new born children locally and from this week, investors can purchase shares in the company which has established this technology in South Africa.
According to the statement a newborn child's stem cells which are collected and then frozen and stored at the bank can in terms of current medical technology be used later in the treatment of over 40 diseases, should any of these be contracted by the child, including a wide range of cancers, genetic diseases, immune system deficiencies and blood disorders.
In addition, cord blood collected from a newborn has a one in four chance of matching with the cellular makeup of siblings, providing relief in these cases.
Lazaron Biotechnologies (SA) Ltd, a company under the John Daniel Group, was established two years ago to focus on the development, discovery and commercialization of regenerative cell and medicine technology.
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