Cordlife

Cordlife Group Limited
Public
Traded as CLGL SP (Bloomberg); P8A.SI (Reuters)
Industry Health Care Services
Founded May 2, 2001
Headquarters Singapore
Area served
 Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, The Philippines (under Cordlife brand); China, Malaysia and Thailand (under other brands through investment stake)
Key people

Ho Choon Hou (Chairman)

Yee Pinh Jeremy (CEO)
Products Cord blood banking, cord lining banking, metabolic screening and other products catering to the mother & child segment
Revenue S$49.1 million (FY2014)
S$30.4 million (FY2014)
Total assets S$190.7 million (FY2014)
Total equity S$141.3 million (FY2014)
Number of employees
 538 (FY2013)
Website www.cordlife.com

Incorporated in May 2001,[1] Cordlife Group Limited ("Cordlife"), is a multi-product healthcare company catering to the mother and child segment and a provider of cord blood and cord lining banking services. It provides cord blood banking services in Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and the Philippines.

In addition, Cordlife has a 10%[2] direct stake in China Cord Blood Corporation ("CCBC"), a cord blood bank operator in China holding majority shares in the Beijing, Guangdong and Zhejiang Cord Blood Banks, and an approximately 24% share in Shandong Cord Blood Bank. In October 2013, Cordlife acquired a 19.92% stake, which was subsequently increased to approximately 31.81%[3] in December 2013, in StemLife Berhad. Currently listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia, StemLife is a fully licensed cord blood banking facility with the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Cordlife has been accredited since 2005 by AABB[4] (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks), an association involved in the field of transfusion medicine and cellular therapies.

History

2014-2012

2011-2008

2007-2001

Products and services

Cord blood banking

Cord blood banking[16] refers to the collection at birth, processing, testing, cryopreservation and storage of stem cells from the umbilical cord blood. Cord blood, also called "placental blood", is blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following the birth of a baby and after the umbilical cord is cut. During pregnancy, the umbilical cord functions as a lifeline between mother and child. After a baby's delivery, the cord blood present in the umbilical cord could offer hope for the child or members of the family. Cord blood is a rich source of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are primarily responsible for replenishing blood and regenerating the immune system.

Cordlife has already launched cord blood banking services in the following countries: Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Cord lining banking

Cord lining banking[17] refers to the collection, processing, testing, cryopreservation and storage of the lining from an umbilical cord. After the baby is delivered, the umbilical cord is cut and normally discarded with the placenta as medical waste until researchers became aware of its medical potential.

Cord lining contains both Epithelial (EpSCs) and Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). EpSCs form the soft tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body including cornea, skin, and liver. MSCs are the building blocks of structural tissues of our body such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fibrous tissues and fat.

Cordlife has already launched cord lining banking services in the following countries:

Newborn metabolic screening

Newborn metabolic screening[19] screens for inborn errors of metabolism from urine samples that can impact the health of newborns. Metabolic disorders are usually not apparent at the time of birth. If left undiagnosed and untreated, the baby can suffer from neurological impairment and physical deformities.

Cordlife has already launched this newborn metabolic screening test (Metascreen) in the following countries:

International operations

Singapore

Cordlife Singapore[21] is the country’s first private cord blood bank and the corporate headquarters of the Group. Situated at A’Posh Bizhub, Yishun, Cordlife Singapore’s fully owned 23,000 square feet processing and storage facility has a storage capacity of up to 650,000[21] cord blood units. Since 2005, Cordlife Singapore has been accredited by AABB.[4] To date, Cordlife Singapore has successfully released seven[22] cord blood units to its clients. In May 2013, Cordlife Technologies Pte Ltd (“CTPL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Group, launched cord lining banking service in Singapore.[9]

Hong Kong

Launched in 2005, Cordlife (Hong Kong) Limited (“Cordlife Hong Kong”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Group. Cordlife Hong Kong moved into a new facility at the Hong Kong Science Park in 2010.[15] The AABB & ISO certified facility has a storage capacity for 50,000[23] cord blood and umbilical cord units. In January 2011,[23] Cordlife Hong Kong became the only private cord blood bank in Hong Kong to have released a cord blood unit for autologous (with one's own stem cells) transplantation to aid the treatment of neuroblastoma. In March 2011,[15] Cordlife Hong Kong introduced CellOptima, a patented cord lining stem cell technology to extract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and Epithelial Stem Cells (EpSCs) from umbilical cord.. In 2014,[20] Cordlife Hong Kong launched Metascreen, a newborn metabolic screening service, in Hong Kong.

Indonesia

Cordlife Indonesia has been providing cord blood processing and cyropreservation service to families in Indonesia since 2003.[24] In October 2007,[25] Cordlife Indonesia opened the first and only DEPKES licensed private cord blood banking facility in Indonesia. Located in Jakarta, Cordlife Indonesia’s ISO-certified processing and storage facility has a storage capacity of 30,000[26] cord blood units.

India

Cordlife Group owns a majority interest (85%[11]) in Cordlife Sciences (India) Pvt. Ltd., (“Cordlife India”) through its wholly owned subsidiary CS Cell Technologies Pte. Ltd. Established in Kolkata, Cordlife India's cord blood facility has a storage capacity of up to 150,000[27] cord blood units. In July 2013,[4] Cordlife India attained accreditation from AABB, an international, not-for-profit association representing individuals and institutions involved in the field of transfusion medicine and cellular therapies. The facility is also certified by ISO 9001:2008.[10] In 2011,[28] Cordlife India successfully released a stem cell unit for the first ever mixed stem cell transplant in India. Cordlife India introduced an advanced non-invasive newborn metabolic screening test called Metascreen in India in October 2013.[7]

The Philippines

Cordlife Group owns a 99.99%[11] interest in Cordlife Medical Phils., Inc. (“Cordlife Philippines”), through its wholly owned subsidiary CS Cell Technologies Pte. Ltd. Registered with the Department of Health, Cordlife Philippines' ISO-certified AABB[4]-accredited facility cord blood processing and cryopreservation facility was officially launched in February 2010 with a storage capacity for 20,000[29] cord blood units. In August 2013,[18] Cordlife Philippines officially launched its newest service, umbilical cord lining banking.

China

Cordlife Group owns a 10%[2] interest in NYSE-listed China Cord Blood Corporation (“CCBC”). CCBC[30] is the largest cord blood banking operator in China, with access to 4 of the 7 authorized cord blood banking licenses: Beijing, Guangdong, Zhejiang and Shandong. On 3 March 2014,[5] Cordlife announced that it has signed a strategic alliance agreement with Cordlabs Asia (“CAP”) and China Cord Blood Corporation to expand cord lining storage services to certain territories in the PRC.

Malaysia

Malaysia cord blood banking operator StemLife is an associate company of Cordlife Group. Cordlife Group acquired a 19.92% stake in StemLife in October 2013, which was subsequently increased to approximately 31.81%[3] in December 2013. Incorporated in 2001,[31] StemLife is the first stem cell banking and therapeutics company in Malaysia. StemLife is currently listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia. StemLife operates its own 24-hour processing, testing, and cryopreservation facility in central Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

References

  1. ↑ Cordlife Website, Corporate Profile
  2. 1 2 3 The Business Times, "Cordlife to buy 10% of China Cord", 16 August 2012
  3. 1 2 3 The Straits Times, "Cordlife raises stake in Malaysia-listed firm StemLife to 31.81 per cent", 9 December 2013
  4. 1 2 3 4 AABB Website, "AABB Accredited Cord Blood (CB) Facilities"
  5. 1 2 The Straits Times, "Cordlife Group in strategic alliance to provide umbilical cord tissue storage in China", 3 March 2014
  6. ↑ Cordlife Press Release, "Cordlife Partners With China Cord Blood Corporation To Introduce Services Based On Cellular Technologies", 11 November 2013
  7. 1 2 3 India Infoline News Service, "Cordlife launches MetaScreen Metabolic Screening Service", 22 November 2013
  8. ↑ Cordlife Press Release, "Cordlife Partners With Golden Meditech To Expand Product Presence In China", 17 October 2013
  9. 1 2 3 Cordlife Press Release, "Cordlife & Thomson Medical Launch The First Umbilical Cord Tissue Banking Services In Singapore", 9 May 2013
  10. 1 2 3 Cordlife Press Release, "Cordlife India Obtains AABB Accreditation"
  11. 1 2 3 Cordlife Press Release, "Cordlife Completes Acquisition of Cord Blood and Cord Tissue Banking Businesses and Assets in India, The Philippines, Hong Kong and Indonesia", 28 June 2013
  12. ↑ Cordlife Press Release, "Cordlife's 9M2013 Net Profit More Than Doubles To S$9.7 Million", 13 May 2013
  13. ↑ Bizdaily, "SGX SEES 13 MAINBOARD IPOS IN 2012", 21 December 2012
  14. 1 2 3 Cordlife Singapore Website, "Cord Blood Release Track Record"
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Cordlife IPO Prospectus dated 21 March 2012
  16. ↑ Cordlife Website, "About Cord Blood",
  17. ↑ Reza, H. M. (2011). Characterization of a novel umbilical cord lining cell with CD227 positivity and unique pattern of P63 expression and function. Stem Cells Reviews and Reports, 7(3), 624-638
  18. 1 2 Smart Parenting Philippines, "Cordlife Philippines Launches Affordable Umbilical Cord Banking Services", 3 September 2013
  19. ↑ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website, "Newborn Screening"
  20. 1 2 Metascreen Hong Kong, Profile
  21. 1 2 The Business Times, "Cordlife's CEO runs a tight ship", 27 November 2013
  22. ↑ Maybank Research, "The Cords That Bind", 1 July 2013
  23. 1 2 Parent's Guide to Cord Blood Foundation Website, Cordlife Hong Kong
  24. ↑ Asia Bio Tech Industry Watch, "CyGenics Asian Healthcare Presence Expanded in Indonesia", 2006
  25. ↑ Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, “One life, one chance”: Cordlife Sciences India Pvt. Ltd. Preserving the precious gift
  26. ↑ Departemen Kesehatan Republik Indonesia, "Minister of Health Opens Umbilical Cord Blood Bank Cordlife Indonesia", 5 October 2007
  27. ↑ SBWire, "CordLife India Offers Most Advanced Cord Blood Facility with CordLife Quality Guarantee", 10 July 2012
  28. ↑ Express Healthcare, "India’s First Successful Mixed Stemcell Transplant From CordLife", June 2011
  29. ↑ PhilStar, "Saving the cells that count", 16 March 2010
  30. ↑ China Cord Blood Corporation, Corporate Presentation, March 2014
  31. ↑ StemLife Malaysia, Corporate Profile

External links

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