Virgin invests in stem cells (unprecedented umbilical cord stem cell bank)

news@nature.com ^ | 1 February 2007 | Matt Brown

[neverdem]

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Published online: 1 February 2007; | doi:10.1038/news070129-11

Virgin invests in stem cells

Multifaceted company gets into healthcare for the future.

Matt Brown

Virgin births: Richard Branson launches the first dual - public and private - umbilical cord stem cell bank.Clara Molden/PA/EMPICS

Richard Branson, more famous for investing in planes, trains and music through Virgin Group, today announced his first foray into healthcare.

Virgin Health Bank, a collaboration with London-based investment company Merlin Biosciences, will store blood stem cells from umbilical cord tissue for the treatment of blood diseases. In a departure from existing commercial cord stem-cell banks, the sample from a subscriber's newborn baby will be split in two — with half available to the public and the other retained for the child.

Cord blood stem cells are increasingly used for the treatment of leukaemia and other blood diseases. The cells can be transfused into a patient's bloodstream, from where they migrate to the bone marrow and develop into blood cells, replacing the patient's cancerous cells. Unlike embryonic stem cells, they are readily obtainable and free from ethical controversy.

The main issue is one of quantity. Although the practice of collecting cord blood is increasing in countries such as Japan and the United States, obtaining cells to match the tissue type of a given individual is still a problem, particularly for those of an ethnic minority.

That's where Virgin Health Bank comes in. The new company, based in the UK, aims to increase the number and diversity of cord cell tissue types available.

Virgin births

For parents who subscribe, for a flat fee of £1,500, it will work like this. Within minutes of the birth of their baby, blood will be drawn from the placenta or umbilical cord by trained personnel. Virgin Health Bank will transport it to storage facilities, determine the tissue type and check for abnormalities. The blood will then be prepared for 'dual banking'. One half will be stored in a public bank and may be used for a transplant in anyone with the correct tissue type; the other half will be set aside in a private bank for the exclusive use of the child, should they require access to their own stem cells at a later date.

This is completely uncharted territory - we can't say whether samples will or will not be useful.  Colin McGuckin University of Newcastle Upon Tyne

For now, Virgin Health Bank says it will focus on treating people with blood disorders, using proven and well regulated methodologies. But there is a possibility that such banks could be expanded for other uses in future.

It is thought that some stem cells — perhaps including those extracted from the placenta — may be developmentally flexible enough to be persuaded to grow into many different types of cells, ultimately perhaps building new tissues or organs for those who need replacements. Stem-cell technology is still a long way from being able to replace complex tissues, but the bank might one day provide a repair kit for diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes.

Branson promises that any profits from his side of the venture will be donated to stem-cell research.

Deep freeze

There is, however, an issue regarding how long the cells can be stored — so far, the record for a successful transplant is eleven years after initial freezing in liquid nitrogen. Colin McGuckin, Professor of Regenerative Medicine at Newcastle University in the UK, notes that this may be a barrier to long-term use. "This is completely uncharted territory — we can't say whether samples will or will not be useful."

Chris Mason, from the Advanced Centre for Biochemical Engineering, University College London, is upbeat about the announcement. "This is win-win situation; it's good for patients and good for helping to keep the UK at the forefront of stem-cell research," he says.

His endorsement is echoed by bodies such as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology, but with a note of caution about procedure. "Our prime concern remains the process of collection of the cord blood and the health of mother and baby," says Peter Braude, chair of the college's scientific advisory committee. "It is imperative that the collection should not in any way compromise the attention of the carers to the delivery."

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[msnimje]

They have a brochure for umbilical stem cell banking on the front counter of every OB-Gyn office I have been in the past 10 years.

[neverdem]

Did you read the story?

[bpjam]

Are you saying there is a problem with this? I'd like to know what it is. I've been familiar with this kind of thing in New Zealand for almost a generation. If we use cord blood, we don't need to kill embryos or fetuses or children to further the 'research'. I'm thinking that liberal Richard Branson will harm the agenda of the fetus killing industry using the political cover of 'stem cell research'.

[neverdem]

New international guidelines for stem cell science

[neverdem]

Are you saying there is a problem with this?

No. It seems like a new flat fee, split sample, public/private business model to expand blood and tissue matches.

"This is completely uncharted territory - we can't say whether samples will or will not be useful."

[hocndoc]

One problem I worry about is that the already small and fragile cord blood sample will be compromised by dividing so that there's not enough for any use in patients.

I've read that only 1 in 10 cord blood samples are "viable" - large enough volume or quality of cells.

http://www.lifeethics.org/www.lifeethics.org/2006/09/1-in-10-how-lucky-do-you-feel.html

In Texas, we have a public State cord blood bank. Just as when you or I donate blood to the blood bank, the cord blood is banked for use in transplants and in research. The chances that any of our babies will need their cord blood cells - at least with current technology - is 1 in 2400 to 1 in 200,000.
(More info and reference at the link above.)

The goal is to store 150,000 or so units, so there will be enough to go around.


Unfortunately, only 4 hospitals are set up with the facilities and the dedicated nurse (to process the samples) that seem to be necessary.

However, San Antonio University hospital delivers a lot of babies, as I'm sure the others in the Valley and in Dallas do.

We have 300,000-400,000 births in Texas each year, so we could be supplying the world!

[msnimje]

Yes. Why do you ask?

[chuckles]

This is good! The first time I heard it it sounded like he was funding embryonic stem cell research. With him being a flaming liberal I just assumed it. This is good business. Nobody funds embryonic stem cells because they don't work. There is much research going into NON embryonic research. That is why the libs need the gubmint to fund their macabre death camps for embyro's.

[neverdem]

Yes. Why do you ask?

See comment# 6.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

This doesn't seem particularly advantageous for the consumer. Here in the States, you pay about the same amount for private banking, and you get the entire sample to yourself. As someone on this thread already noted, there isn't that much blood per sample, even if it can be taken (which sometimes it can't be, for technical reasons). Why is this Virgin model better? I don't see it.

[neverdem]

Here in the States, you pay about the same amount for private banking, and you get the entire sample to yourself. As someone on this thread already noted, there isn't that much blood per sample, even if it can be taken (which sometimes it can't be, for technical reasons).>

The cost of private cord blood banking is approximately $2000 for collection and approximately $125 per year for storage as of 2006.

I'm not sure if sample size will remain a problem in the future as the various growth factors are characterized and understood.

TGFbeta in the differentiation of embryonic stem cells.