Lifecell bets big on stem cell potential

Kolkata, Nov 5: Indian biotechnology firm Lifecell is aiming to harness the benefits of stem cell research to cure serious ailments by cashing in on the high birth rate in the country.

Stem cells or master cells from which the body's immune and blood system originate can develop into cells of any organ.

Blood extracted from the baby's umbilical cord and placenta discarded after birth are loaded with stem cells and can help cure more than 75 serious ailments, S. Abhaya Kumar, Vice-Chairman, Lifecell told sources in an interview at his laboratory in Chennai.

Research using cord blood cells is easier than from embryonic stem cells, derived from human embryos, or from adult bone marrow due to easier availability.

The one and half year old Lifecell, offering cord blood cell banking in collaboration with the world's first cord blood stem cell banking company Cryo-Cell International Inc. USA, is currently offering private storage facility to around 5000 samples.

'' New age parents are rushing to store offspring's stem cells to protect their children from future ailments. It is effective in the treatment of leukemia, anaemia, inherited disorders and several other deficiencies of the immune system,'' Mr Kumar said.

''Lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, liver disorders and heart ailments can also be treated with stem cells,'' he added.

''We charge Rs 35,000 for enrollment and Rs 3,500 per year for storage with an agreement for 21 years,'' Mr Kumar said.

''Some IT companies have tied up for gifting their employees the benefits of cord blood storage as part of maternity benefits,'' he said.

With 19 operational centers and partnerships with 120 hospitals across the country, the company has members from all corners of India as well as places like Dubai, Lahore, Singapore, USA and Colombo. ''We will launch a cord blood storage bank in Malaysia for the Asean countries by February 2007 and the Dubai banking facility would be ready by December 2007,'' Mr Kumar said.

The company's first stem cell transplant centre is coming up at Sr Ramachandra Medical Centre of Excellence at Chennai by December 2006 to begin treatment on hemato-oncological cases.

''We are planning more such transplant centers including a cardio vascular transplant centre by early 2007,'' Mr Kumar said.

Lifecell is also planning to extend its horizon to public banking by December 2007 to enable access of stem cells from umbilical cord to persons, who are not family members of the donors.

'' We will tie up with leading hospitals for this,'' he said.

Lifecell plans to launch cord blood registry before yearend with 1,000 samples.

Lifecell has formed Saneron India in association with Saneron CCELL and Saneron Asia to commence clinical trials by December 2006.

''Intially we will focus on stroke, ALS and Spinal Cord injuries and then move on to cardiac and other diseases,'' he said.

Lifecell has already spent Rs 24 crore for setting up the cord bank collection center and has planned an investment of Rs 50-60 crore in 2 years to expand operations.

UNI