Stem cells are a valuable resource for modern cell therapy. Newborn cord blood contains young, vital stem cells that can be obtained without invasive measures and are virtually free of any pathogens and environmental influences. These stem cell are cryogenically preserved in stem cell banks for decades and stored for medical health care.
Private stem cell banks store stem cells for a child and its family, with parents paying for this service. Public banks retain these stem cells for use by third-party recipients as a service for the general public. This service is funded by donations or public resources. Establishing a nationwide public donation system would be difficult and perhaps unfeasible due to costs, and based on a very high rejection rate of up to 80%, it would not make much sense, either.
Vita 34 in Germany, one of the ten most influential stem cell banks, has created a combination of both models. As part of this process, public registries will also have access to some of the privately stored cord blood. With VitaMine&Yours, Vita 34 has developed the first true hybrid product, combining private health care and public donation. [Read more…]