CHENNAI, October 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Mr. Mayur Abhaya, CEO & Managing Director of LifeCell - India's largest umbilical cord stem cell bank differs in opinion from The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in the guideline recommendation for preserving vital stem cells from cord tissue, menstrual blood and other biological sources considering many aspects.
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ICMR had made recommendations in its National guidelines to stem cell research, 2017, to suspend commercial banking of stem cells derived from biological materials such as cord tissue, placenta, tooth extract and menstrual blood. In its recommendation, ICMR which functions under the health ministry had stated that there is no scientific evidence to substantiate the clinical benefits of these stem cells. Accordingly, the ICMR has issued guidelines stating that commercial banking of all other biological materials, other than UCB, is not permitted until further notification.
However, Mr. Mayur Abhaya, CEO & Managing Director of LifeCell - India's largest umbilical cord stem cell bank, has a different opinion based on the following reasons:
A statement issued by the company says that the ICMR decision seems to be inconsistent and seeks a rationale to this guideline. Recently, Stempeutics Research (a group company of Manipal Education & Medical Group and a Joint Venture with Cipla Group) had received approval to commercialise its product 'Stempeucel' - a cultured adult allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow for treatment. The product was approved for treating Critical Limb Ischemia due to Buerger's disease. Hence, this ban is inconsistent to this approval issued by DCGI.
Preservation of cord tissue and other source of stem cells have been prevalent across the globe considering its research advancements in medicine. Advanced economies like US and Europe have been encouraging support towards licensing/registration of such banking practices. Even internationally acclaimed regulatory bodies such as USFDA, AABB have acknowledged and accredited cord tissue banking, whereas in India these guidelines throw a surprise, having the impact of curtailing the future potential of stem cell treatments.
With many ongoing scientific research and clinical trials substantiating significant progress of cord tissue stem cells, it is not possible to ignore the unending possibilities that the Mesenchymal Stem Cells ('MSC') can provide to individuals, particularly for medical treatment and ailments they suffer. The right to store these MSCs are of critical importance to each person. Indeed, this right would form a part of the 'right to life' guaranteed under the Constitution and requires to be protected. Preserving cord tissue stem cells is a once in a lifetime opportunity, which once lost by a person, cannot be re-created subsequently. It is impossible to compensate a person for this lost opportunity, hence it is recommended to preserve these at birth to gain access to treatments later once MSCs evolve into treatments in the near future.
In targeting the banking of the MSCs, the objective is clearly to prevent misuse in the form of treatments using the MSCs without proven clinical evidence. By targeting the banking of the MSCs, the ICMR is preventing access to the public of the benefits at a future point of time when these could well be developed as a proven therapy. If wrongful declaration by the banking industry was the concern, guidelines could easily have prescribed clear declarations by these banks of absence of a scientific body of research of the utility of these MSCs. Banking is a mere storage, and not utilization. If utilisation was a concern, restrictions on the release of the stored MSCs could easily have been prescribed, which has not even been considered.
Mr. Mayur Abhaya, CEO & Managing Director, LifeCell said, "The decision to recommend a ban on banking of stem cells from cord tissue, menstrual blood and other biological sources is very unfortunate and totally overlooks the potential contribution of stem cells in research and development. Though today, applications of these are restricted, research and advanced clinical trials across the globe on these products have been demonstrating a significant progress. It is only a matter of time when these stem cells could become treatment solutions for many disorders that have very few other options for treatment."
Now, if the contention is that these cord tissue and other MSC stem cells are going to be used for treatments today, if that is the concern of ICMR then the answer is a clear "No" since they have not been approved for therapies.
Mr. Mayur added, "However it is important to preserve them today considering that it's once in a lifetime opportunity and would stay protected when these stem cells turn into potential treatment opportunities. Rather it is imperative that the Govt. should impose a strict ban on usage of these MSC cells for treatments today and ensure compliance but not restrict preservation for the future. I'm sure the DCGI would take a fair view to provide the opportunity to preserve these stem cells for future use considering the advancing opportunities in research and clinical trials."
About LifeCell
LifeCell, established in 2004, is India's leading provider of preventive healthcare services for family wellness, such as stem cell banking and diagnostic testing, with facilities at Chennai & Gurgaon with a network spanning over 200 cities in India and abroad. BabyCord, LifeCell's umbilical cord stem cell preservation services, is world's second largest with over 50,000 parents preserving their baby's stem cells with it each year and over 2,70,000 parents already having trusted LifeCell.
With the recent launch of BabyCord Share, a community-based approach towards stem cell access is a global first and aims to provide families in India better future access to stem cells than even currently possible in advanced countries such as the US. LifeCell's processing, storage and testing facilities are the most accredited having received recognitions from domestic and global bodies such as the AABB (formerly American Association of Blood Banks), College of American Pathologists, National Accreditation Board for Laboratories, World Health Organization, amongst many others, and is also US FDA registered.
BabyShield, LifeCell's preventive genetic screening and diagnostic testing services, is India's market leader for newborn screening services and recently forayed into prenatal screening.
Visit us at: www.lifecell.in
For More details, please contact
Krutika Rajkumar
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
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Mob: +91-9884493607
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