Wednesday May 30, 6:07 am Eastern Time
Press Release
THERMOGENESIS CORP. Worldwide Market Share for Processing and Archiving Cord Blood Increases
The Central Blood Bank of the Magen David Adom in Ramat Gan, Israel Becomes the First Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank in Israel to Adopt the BioArchive® System
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--May 30, 2001-- THERMOGENESIS CORP. (Nasdaq:KOOL - news) announced the receipt of an order for the BioArchive System from the Central Blood Bank of the Magen David Adom (``MDA'') in Ramat Gan, Israel.
In Europe, BioArchive Systems have been placed at the major Cord Blood Stem Cell Banks in Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Spain, and Finland. In North America, BioArchive Systems have been placed at the New York Blood Center, Duke University Medical Center, San Diego Blood Bank, NuStem Technologies, Inc., Coriell Institute for Medical Research pursuant to IND regulations, and the National Transfusion Service Cord Blood Bank in Mexico. Additionally in Asia, BioArchive Systems have been chosen in Japan, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, South Korea, Malaysia and India.
The Company estimates that more than 70% of the cord blood stem cell transplants performed to date are from Cord Blood Banks who are now using the Company's BioArchive Systems, demonstrating that the BioArchive System is the international choice for collecting, processing, and archiving cryopreserved hematopoietic stem cells sourced from placental/cord blood (``PCB''). PCB stem cells are used to reconstitute the hematopoietic and immune systems of patients who have undergone high-dose chemotherapy and radiation to combat diseases such as leukemias, lymphomas, diverse inherited anemias, such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, and other genetic diseases.
Dr. James Godsey, president and COO of THERMOGENESIS CORP. commented, ``This will be the first BioArchive System to be installed in Israel. We are pleased that the Central Blood Bank of the MDA has chosen the BioArchive System for their cord blood processing and storage program. Placement of the BioArchive System at this premier stem cell bank in Israel moves the Company one country closer to its goal of establishing a global network of national cord blood bank programs which have adopted the BioArchive System as their standard.''
Professor Shinar, director of the Central Blood Bank, is planning for an October 2001 opening of the cord blood stem cell banking facility.
According to Philip Coelho, chairman and CEO of THERMOGENESIS CORP., ``Recent research suggests that there are stem cells in a unit of cord blood that have the potential to produce other cells outside the hematopoietic system such as neural, liver and bone cells. Since there are serious ethical issues with sourcing stem cells from embryos and fetuses, we believe scientists may begin to focus on cord blood as a superior, non-controversial source for these multi-potential stem cells.''
The BioArchive System uses THERMOGENESIS CORP.'s proprietary computer-driven liquid nitrogen robotic system to cryopreserve and archive up to 3,626 units that have been collected, processed and cryopreserved in proprietary sterile plastic bag sets. The BioArchive System tracks identification and location for each unit and performs robotic retrieval of each unique barcoded unit. The BioArchive System freezes, places and retrieves stem cells without exposing them and other archived samples to Transient Warming Events (TWEs), which can significantly reduce their viability.
Regulatory Status
The BioArchive System is a Class II blood component freezer exempt from the pre-market notification procedures. The BioArchive System has potential applications involving archiving, storing, managing and retrieving other kinds of biological specimens, that may include stem cells, dendritic cells, T-cells, cell lines, male sperm cells, female eggs, heart valves, corneas, virus samples, biopsy samples and other blood, tissue and saliva samples. The BioArchive System is currently intended for preservation of blood components and blood products and would require FDA 510(k) clearance for additional indications for use.
About THERMOGENESIS CORP.
THERMOGENESIS CORP. has been a pioneer in designing, manufacturing and distributing equipment to collect, cryopreserve and archive highly sensitive blood products and biological tissue for more than 10 years.
The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, certain delays beyond the company's control with respect to market acceptance of new technologies and products, delays in testing and evaluation of products, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Contact:
THERMOGENESIS CORP.
James H. Godsey, Ph.D., 916/858-5100
jgodsey@thermogenesis.com
www.thermogenesis.com |
