Cord Blood Registry Achieves Industry-Leading Stem Cell Recovery With New Automation Technology

Cord Blood Registry® (CBR) has announced that it has completed initial validation testing of the company’s proprietary CellAdvantageTM system using new automation technology for cell processing, developed by Thermogenesis and distributed by GE Healthcare. The new technology, called the AXP AutoXpressTM Platform (AXPTM), 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 cordblood/.

About Thermogenesis

ThermoGenesis Corp. (thermogenesis/) 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.

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 gehealthcare/.

Contact: Elissa Armstrong

Golin/Harris International

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