Cordlife Philippines (Cordlife) has entered into a partnership with the Center for Regenerative Medicine of Makati Medical Center (MMC-CRM) for a research and service collaboration which harnesses the power of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from a baby’s umbilical cord for treatment of conditions such as diabetic foot ulceration and COVID-19 pneumonia. 

Cordlife is the donor for umbilical cord MSCs for the ongoing local clinical studies by MMC-CRM using umbilical cord-derived MSCs, while MMC-CRM is the outsourced provider for the expansion of umbilical cord MSCs. MSC Expansion is the process of isolating MSCs from an umbilical cord tissue and culturing them in the laboratory to allow them to grow and further multiply into a required number of cells that is suitable for cellular therapy.

“We are honored to be a part of MMC-CRM’s groundbreaking research efforts to advancing healthcare in the Philippines. We are fully committed to supporting them in the building of a holistic ecosystem to advance stem cell research and develop cellular therapies,” said Ms. Tan Poh Lan, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cordlife Group Limited.

The MMC-CRM is accredited by Department of Health as a facility allowed to engage in human stem cell or cellular therapy in accordance with DOH Administrative Order 2013-0012, also known as Rules and Regulations Governing the Accreditation of Health Facilities Engaging in Human Stem Cell and Cell-based or Cellular Therapies in the Philippines. This ensures human stem cell and cell-based therapies in the country are safe and effective for their intended use.

The MMC-CRM follows global standards in cellular therapeutics practice, training and research, and staffed by experienced scientists.

Cordlife Philippines meanwhile has the prestigious status of being the country’s first and only DOH-registered, ISO-certified, and AABB-accredited private stem cell bank with a local stem cell processing and cryopreservation facility. They are also the first and only stem cell bank in the country to provide MSC expansion service.

According to MMC-CRM Director Dr. Jose Maria Avila, “Our organization values professionalism, a deep commitment to excellence at what we do, and true compassion for our patients. We share and see this in Cordlife and this is the reason why we are partners now in this endeavor.” 

Upon delivery of the baby, the umbilical cord will be collected by Cordlife for segmentation at its facility. This will be followed by the umbilical cord MSC expansion by MMC-CRM and finally, its storage by Cordlife at its facility in UP-AyalaLand Technohub, Quezon City. By storing expanded MSCs, possible delays in receiving timely treatment can be prevented. In case of emergency, preserving treatment-ready stem cells can give families immediate access to medical care. MSCs are immune evasive which makes it beneficial for biological family members because the risk for rejection that could come with the use of donor stem cells is eliminated. But in the event that there is no immediate necessity, Cordlife will give free storage for the first five years.

Furthermore, MSCs from the umbilical cord are the youngest and most primitive MSCs that can be obtained safely and painlessly. These stem cells tend to replicate at a faster rate and have higher potency, which makes the umbilical cord MSCs among the most capable stem cells available.  

MSCs have been at the center of regenerative medicine through cell-based therapies due to their unique properties which make them optimal for tissue regeneration. Advancements in stem cell research have led to MSCs being used in various potential treatments of illnesses such as COVID-19, stroke, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, autism, cerebral palsy, diabetes, HIV. With such promising results, over 1,000 clinical trials are now ongoing worldwide to uncover the potential applications of MSCs.