First Private Stem Cell Bank In Thailand Expects To Grow By Half In 2009

Thailand's first private umbilical cord stem cell bank expects an increase by as much as 50 percent this year. Thai StemLife, which reported a 25 percent increase in stem cells stored last year, anticipates even faster growth to be generated by an increase beyond the current 1 percent of new Thai parents who elect to have cord cells stored to provide the best source for later transplant for the child if needed. Thai StemLife COO Kostas Papadopoulos said the markets in neighboring Singapore and Malaysia already have reached 20 percent. But the potential also has attracted Thai competitors such as Cordlife, Cryoviva, Stem Cell for Life and Thai Health Baby. (Click here for more