South Africa’s Lazaron Biotechnologies announced on Wednesday it would set up Africa’s first stem cell bank, bringing the country to the forefront of a controversial area of medical research.
The private company -- linked to the University of Stellenbosch and 25 percent owned by JD Holdings -- said it would harvest cells from a baby’s umbilical cord for research and treatment of a range of diseases.
“The limited option already exists to store stem cells abroad, and we took the decision to offer this opportunity to the broader spectrum of the South African population,” Lazaron chief executive Daniel Barry said in a statement.
Stem cells are master cells in the body that have the capability to transform into new cells or tissue.
Researchers believe they offer a potentially revolutionary way to repair diseased and damaged body tissue, offering possible treatment for a range of disease such as cancer and Parkinson’s.
Britain opened the world’s first embryonic stem cell bank in May. It will store and supply stem cells for research and eventually treatment. Anti-abortion groups opposed the move, saying it is unethical to extract stem cells from human embryos.
The cells are also available in vast quantities in the umbilical cord, which is usually discarded at birth.
Barry said the stem cells from an umbilical cord had potential to be used in treatment for more than 40 life threatening diseases, adding Lazaron research into the therapeutic use of stem cells was at an advanced stage.
“Stem cells have already been stored for over 18 years, and currently scientists see no reason why cryogenically frozen stem cells cannot be stored for a lifetime,” he said.
The company hopes to begin human trials on the use of stem cells in the treatment of cardiovascular and cartilage regeneration within the next eight to 13 months.
