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5 Types of Cord Blood Market Participants Impacted by AMAG Pharma’s Acquisition of Cord Blood Registry (CBR®)

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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

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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

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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.

[Read more…]

What is Cord Blood Awareness Month?

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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.

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What questions do you have about cord blood banking? Mention them in the comments below.

Americord | What Differentiates This Fast-Growth Cord Blood Bank?

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Americord is a private cord blood bank in the U.S. that offers the collection and storage of cells from umbilical cord blood, cord tissue and placental tissue. An increasing number of parents are trying to decide about privately storing, publicly donating, or discarding their newborn’s umbilical cord blood and other birth tissues as medical waste.

It is a difficult decision and there are many factors to consider. Every parent-to-be wants the best for their baby, which makes it difficult to decide about cord blood banking publicly, privately, or not at all.

Americord®

In this article:

About Americord

Americord® is a leader in cord blood, cord tissue, and placenta tissue banking. As one of the only banks to offer placenta tissue banking and the only cord blood bank with Cord Blood 2.0™ technology, Americord® offers stem cell banking at a fraction of the cost of some of the market leaders.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Cord blood contains valuable hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that are currently being used to treat over 80 diseases including leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, immune system disorders, bone marrow cancers, anemias, and more. HSCs can become any of the blood cells and cellular blood components in our bodies (such as white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, etc.), and they are currently being used to treat over 80 diseases.

Cord Blood 2.0™

To collect these valuable stem cells, Americord® developed Cord Blood 2.0™, one of the most groundbreaking advancements in umbilical cord blood banking. Until now, a huge limitation of cord blood banking has been that the number of stem cells preserved in a typical cord blood collection is only sufficient to treat someone up to 65 pounds. With Cord Blood 2.0™, up to twice as many stem cells can be collected and saved, making it possible to treat larger patients and expand treatment opportunities for smaller patients.

Americord® makes it possible to perform stem cell therapy and stem cell treatments on a child into adolescence and even adulthood. Banking cord blood can now be an insurance policy for life since it is possible to collect enough stem cells to treat children and adults.

Delayed Cord Clamping and Cord Blood Collections

More and more parents are now becoming concerned delayed cord clamping and cord blood collections. Americord™ believes that parents should be able to do both. Now that it is possible to collect twice as many stem cells, parents can do a cord blood collection after delayed cord clamping that results in a viable collection size and volume while still providing their child with the health benefits of delayed cord clamping.

Americord® also agrees with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which states that delaying cord clamping for 1.5-3 minutes is ideal. When the cord blood collection is begun no later than 3 minutes, the chances of a viable collection size are high.

Cord Tissue Banking

Along with many other cord blood banks, Americord® offers cord tissue banking along with cord blood banking. However, Americord® is one of the only banks to offer placenta tissue banking. A lot of parents-to-be don’t realize the possibilities for placenta tissue since most cord banking companies still do not offer it as a banking option. Offering placenta tissue banking gives families the ability to bank on Mom too.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Banking your baby’s placenta tissue means saving mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that are a genetic match to mom. During pregnancy, the mother’s body uses MSCs to create the placenta, which acts as a barrier between her body and the baby’s. This newly built organ nourishes the growing child throughout pregnancy and provides a filtration system to pass nutrients to the baby that they need. After birth, Americord® collects the entire placenta and selects the most valuable portions for storage in order to collect the stem cells that are a genetic match to the mother.

With new uses for the placenta on the horizon, moms are choosing to save this incredible organ rather than discard it. Researchers also agree that MSCs, like those from placenta tissue, hold the keys to the future of stem cell treatments and research.

Americord™ Collection Kit

But, how much is cord blood banking? Banking cord blood does not have to be out of reach because of cost. Instead of paying doctors for referrals or spending millions on marketing, savings are passed on directly to parents-to-be. With every Americord™ Collection Kit, 20 years of free stem cell storage is included. There are no annual fees, processing fees, or shipping fees. Americord® doesn’t charge anything until after we have given a Certificate of Storage has been sent, confirming that the stem cells are viable and safely stored.

Unlike Cord Blood Registry and Viacord, who both charge yearly for umbilical cord blood banking, Americord® offers both a one-time payment and a 24-month payment plan option that covers 20 years of storage. Cord Blood 2.0™ is $2,999 for a one-time payment or $139 for 24 months as a payment plan. Americord® believes that each client should have easy and free access to their collection whenever needed. If a family ever needs a cord blood transplant, Americord® will release the cells at no charge and will pay for up to $500 of the shipping cost.

Cord Blood 2.0™ Benefits

When weighing cord blood banking pros and cons, it’s important to remember that in order for this investment to last a lifetime, enough stem cells will need to be collected and stored to treat the child as he or she grows. Cord blood uses are increasing each year and twenty years ago, there were no diseases treated with these stem cells. In future years, the possible benefits of cord blood banking will likely cover a much larger array of diseases and illnesses.

Cord Blood 2.0 protects this investment and provides the best chance to collect more stem cells for future years. Similarly, placenta tissue clinical trials are on the rise and there is data showing enormous potential in treating type 1 diabetes, assisting in stem cell transplants, and alleviating optical disorders. This is a chance to ensure possible treatment options for mom as research progresses and discovers more uses. Reaping the benefits of stem cells from cord blood, cord tissue, and placenta tissue do not have to be out of reach financially. Banking with Americord® means the highest quality banking, innovative stem cell options, and the absolute best value.

Do you have any questions about Americord? Ask them in the comments section below. 

Up Next: Geographical Differences in Cord Blood Banking

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