Cryo-Save Group N.V.
Cryo-Save Group N.V. (AIM/Euronext: CRYO, “Cryo-Save” or “the Group”), Europe's leading stem cell bank, notes and welcomes the announcement of proposed new legislation in France supporting the collection and preservation of umbilical cord blood stem cells.
The proposed legislation, which was announced by Deputy Damien Meslot at a press conference in Paris yesterday, along with Nico Forraz, Managing Director of Cryo-Save France, includes recommendations that:
(I) During prenatal exams, pregnant women should be informed about cord blood stem cells and their therapeutic indications, as well as about the possibility of donating these stem cells for therapeutic or scientific use, or to store the stem cells for a potential autologous or allogenic therapeutic use.
(II) All mothers should be allowed to have their umbilical cord blood stem cells collected, processed and stored by public or private entities for scientific use or for potential autologous or allogenic therapeutic use.
Marc Waeterschoot, Chief Executive, commented:
“It is paramount to inform expecting women and parents on the therapeutic benefits of umbilical cord and cord blood derived stem cells. Already all over Europe, parents are offered options to privately store umbilical cord and cord blood stem cell.
“This new proposed legislation will be very important in helping to create awareness in France of cord blood banking and will significantly contribute to the development of our operations in the Country which, with 850,000 births per year, has the potential to become the largest cord blood market in Europe.”
For further details:
Cryo-Save Group + 31 (0) 575 548 998
Marc Waeterschoot, Chief Executive
Arnoud van Tulder, Chief Financial Officer
Daniel Stewart & Company plc + 44 (0) 20 7776 6550
Simon Leathers/Tessa Smith
College Hill + 44 (0) 20 7457 2020
Adrian Duffield/Rozi Morris
About Cryo-Save
With more than 120,000 samples saved, Cryo-Save is the leading stem cell bank in Europe and one of the fastest growing in the world. Driven by its international business strategy, Cryo-Save is now represented in 38 countries on three continents and has state-of-the-art processing facilities in Belgium, Germany, Dubai, India and France (under construction).
Cryo-Save sets the highest quality standards in stem cell storage, as it aims to make an important contribution to conquer possible life-threatening diseases in the future. As a service to the public, Cryo-Save offers a Cost-free Family Donation Programme, free of charge, to families wishing to store their newborn's umbilical cord blood stem cells for a family member diagnosed with a life-threatening disease treatable by stem cells. The company is committed to further improve stem cell cryopreservation techniques, by participating in European Commission funded projects, in Universities and Hospitals.