Cryo-Cell Isolates Maternal Stem Cell with new Therapeutic Potential for Advancing Women's Healthcare
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Researchers at Cryo-Cell International Inc. have isolated a new type of adult stem cell with potential for treating a broad range of diseases in the future.
The stem cell, called a maternal placental stem cell (MPSC), is taken from the discarded placental tissue immediately after childbirth. Like stem cells recovered from umbilical cord blood, these cells may be collected without any risk to the mother or child.
The new cell is maternal in origin, meaning it is genetically matched with the mother. Cryo-Cell is preparing to commercialize a service offering involving collection and preservation of MPSCs from placental tissue at the time of birth.
The proposed new service will be based on the Company's intellectual property (IP) associated with methods, processes and systems for the procurement, isolation, processing and cryopreservation of MPSCs.
In independent laboratory studies, MPSCs have differentiated into several other cell types, including neural, bone and fat cells. Even after many population doublings, MPSCs appear to remain stable and retain key characteristics.
The Company plans to offer the MPSC service, when it is commercially available, bundled with its U-Cord® umbilical stem cell collection and storage services. Cryo-Cell believes that the MPSC service will provide families with the opportunity to safeguard both the mother and her newborn with stem cells preserved for their future potential therapeutic utilization.
The Company is proceeding with steps to commercialize the proposed service and expects to announce a targeted launch date in the coming months. Prior to the Company's commercial launch of this service, certain developments must occur, including completion of clinical validation and testing for commercialization of the process and the Company's development of its final business and economic model in offering this service. These activities are currently underway.
"This is a very exciting advance for women's healthcare - identifying maternal stem cells from a tissue source traditionally regarded as medical waste that are matched to the donor and can differentiate into several types of cells," said Julie Allickson, Ph.D., Vice President, Laboratory Operations, Research and Development.
"With the MPSC and its apparent proliferative capability, we may have a potential new pathway for prospective therapeutic applications associated with a broad range of conditions afflicting women, such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and neurological disorders, to name a few."
"Cryo-Cell will be positioned to offer expectant mothers a combination no other company can promise: the highest accredited quality of umbilical cord blood preservation, a proven life-saving treatment, combined with the maternal placental stem cell service, which has the potential to protect the mother's health in the future. We expect that the compelling synergies between these two services will serve to significantly differentiate Cryo-Cell's future message to expectant mothers: 'Protect your baby, protect yourself'," said Mercedes Walton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cryo-Cell.
