CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank, headquartered in Orlando, Fla., an operator of both public and family cord blood banks, has entered into an agreement with Illinois–based Tianhe Stem Cell Biotechnologies, which has licensed a series of patented technologies for the isolation of human cord blood-derived multipotent stem cells for possible clinical applications.

Tianhe is performing phase I/II clinical trials in China and Spain using Tianhe's Stem Cell Educator Therapy showing that the therapy is safe.

In patients with moderate or severe type 1 diabetes (T1D), a single treatment produced lasting improvement in metabolic control. Trial results demonstrated improvement lasting three years following a single treatment. Trials also revealed improvement in 80% of patients who have type 2 diabetes (T2D). Initial results indicate Stem Cell Educator Therapy reverses autoimmunity and promotes regeneration of islet beta-cells with the goal of producing a treatment for T1D and T2D, as well as other autoimmune diseases.

"We have received cord blood from many banks around the nation and world, but we have found that the cord blood provided to us by CORD:USE has the highest quality of any cord blood that we have received," said Dr. Yong Zhao, president of Tianhe.

The American Diabetes Association estimates in the U.S. alone as many as 25 million people are afflicted with diabetes. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 347 million people have diabetes worldwide and the WHO projects that it will be the 7th leading cause of death by 2030. Diabetes and its associated complications substantially affect the quality of life and create significant economic burden. Additionally, the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association cites that 50 million Americans suffer from an autoimmune disease.

"Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem and progenitor cells as well as immune cell populations with tremendous potential in the treatment of many diseases including diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. CORD:USE strives to be the best in class in cord blood banking while being instrumental in the development of such new treatments," said John Wagner, M.D., a pioneer in umbilical cord blood transplantation.

"To date, our clinical data from trials demonstrated that correction of immune dysfunctions by Stem Cell Educator Therapy leads to the restoration of pancreatic islet β-cell function in long-standing T1D and T2D Chinese subjects. In collaboration with CORD:USE, we are going to submit the FDA application for the approval of clinical trials in the U.S.," said Zhao.