Cord Blood Registry® (CBR) recently made headlines by announcing that it had entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by AMAG Pharmaceuticals for $700M. While the announcement was new, there were aspects of the deal that seemed eerily familiar.
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Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs)
5 Types of Cord Blood Market Participants Impacted by AMAG Pharma’s Acquisition of Cord Blood Registry (CBR®)
On June 29, 2015, AMAG Pharmaceuticals released news that reverberated throughout the cord blood banking industry worldwide, announcing that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cord Blood Registry (CBR®) for $700 million. The acquisition is expected to close during the third-quarter of 2015, based on regulatory approvals and execution of agreed upon terms and conditions.
Direct Participants in the Cord Blood Deal
Founded in 1992 and headquartered in San Bruno, California, Cord Blood Registry® is the largest cord blood bank in the United States and the world. CBR® currently stores over 500,000 preserved cord blood and cord tissue units, which is substantially more than its nearest competitor, ViaCord, which has approximately 350,000 units stored. [Read more…]
Cord Blood is 2nd Most Common Source of Stem Cells for Cell Therapy
For those competing within the cord blood marketplace, it is valuable to know that umbilical cord blood is the second most common source of stem cells for cellular therapy.
Because it is a rich source of highly primitive hematopoietic stem cells, umbilical cord blood has enormous regenerative potential for stem cell-based-therapy, both for the treatment of hematological and non-hematological disorders. Indeed, with the recent expansion in stem cell research and an increase in public interest in stem cell-based therapies, researchers are now exploring the potential of umbilical cord blood stem cells for non-hematological disorders.
This is evidenced by the increasing number of clinical trials that are utilizing umbilical cord blood stem cell-based therapies to treat a range of diseases.
However, with these advances come new standards that must be established, including:
- Standardization of criteria for the selection of umbilical cord blood (UCB) units for stem cell-based therapies
- Outcome measures
- Long-term follow-up
Additionally, it is controversial within medical communities to use umbilical cord blood stem cells for non-hematological disorders, a perspective which is gradually starting to change. Clearly, therapeutic use of cord blood stem cells will play an important role in the future of regenerative medicine, but its applications and limitations of use have yet to be defined.
Cord Blood Industry News Round-Up | June 2015
The cord blood banking industry is well-known for its shifting dynamics, including new alliances, new research advances and innovations. Every month there are major new events that affect market participants.
While it may be possible to stay informed about cord blood industry news in your region, it can be more difficult to track changes on a global scale. For that reason, the following is a summary of significant cord blood industry events for June 2015.
What is Cord Blood Awareness Month?
Cord Blood Awareness Month is celebrated in the month of July. This time on the calendar is set aside to raise awareness about the importance of preserving newborn umbilical cord blood and tissue, as well as the valuable stem cells that they contain. These stem cells can now be used in the treatment of more than 80 diseases and conditions.
Preparing for Cord Blood Awareness Month
Because July is National Cord Blood Awareness Month, we are celebrating it by sharing eight facts about cord blood banking awareness.
The Campaign for Cord Blood Banking Awareness
In partnership with the Save the Cord Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to cord blood banking awareness and education, BioInformant has launched an awareness campaign titled, “Cord Blood Banking Awareness: Educating America and the World.”
Education: Cord Blood Awareness Month
The campaign is a global effort that will educate currently expecting parents, as well as future parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends, about the medical benefits of cord blood preservation. The campaign involves the distribution of facts about cord blood banking awareness, as well as the distribution of media content and videos sharing factual information about cord blood banking awareness rates in the U.S. and other countries worldwide.
These cord blood banking awareness facts are released by Save the Cord Foundation and are shared across our websites and our social media platforms:
Twitter: @SaveTheCord and @StemCellMarket
LinkedIn: SaveTheCord and BioInformant
Facebook: SaveTheCord
Cord Blood Banking Awareness Facts
Below are eight cord blood banking awareness facts that we have released in honor of July as National Cord Blood Awareness Month.
What questions do you have about cord blood banking? Mention them in the comments below.
