New Technology Launched in Stem Cell Preservation

Reuters, August 31, 2009

The biotech company BioLife Solutions announced today the launch of its new biopreservation media product platform, known as BloodStor 55-5. The new technology offers significant improvements to the field of adult stem cell cryopreservation, and is expected to drive an increase in revenue at cord blood banks.

Already recognized as a leading manufacturer, developer and marketer in the field of biopreservation tools, BioLife Solutions is focused on the commercialization of novel ways to bank cells, tissue and organs. BloodStor 55-5, it's newest product, is packaged in standard, single-use sterile vials of various volumes and is formulated with 55% USP grade DMSO and 5% USP grade dextran-40 in water for injection quality (WFI) water. BloodStor 55-5 also supports a common cord blood processing protocol.

According to Mike Rice, chairman and CEO of BioLife, "The launch of our BloodStor product family supports our mission to become the leading provider of preservation tools for cells, tissues, and organs. Specifically, our BloodStor product offering should enable BioLife to more quickly capture a larger share of the demand for preservation media products used in the rapidly growing cord blood banking industry. We're leveraging our Quality System and the capacity of our recently validated internal manufacturing facility to offer more standard and custom products to our strategic markets. We've already received orders for BloodStor 55-5 and expect to begin customer shipments by the end of September."

The company expects to achieve the ISO13485 medical device quality management systems certification by the end of 2009. As described on their website, "All BloodStor products are tested for sterility to USP 71, endotoxin to USP 85, pH, appearance, and cell-based preservation efficacy."

As further described on the company's website, "BioLife Solutions develops, manufactures and markets patented hypothermic storage/transport and cryopreservation media products for cells, tissues, and organs. The Company's proprietary HypoThermosol and CryoStor platform of biopreservation media products are marketed to academic research institutions, hospitals, and commercial companies involved in cell therapy, tissue engineering, cord blood banking, drug discovery, and toxicology testing. BioLife's GMP products are serum-free and protein-free, fully defined, and pre-formulated to reduce preservation-induced, delayed-onset cell damage and death. Comprehensive small animal intravenous safety studies have been completed on HypoThermosol and CryoStor, and both products are supported by US FDA Master Files. BioLife's enabling technology provides research and clinical organizations significantly enhanced post-preservation cell and tissue viability and function."

BioLife Solutions will be presenting and exhibiting the BloodStor 55-5 at the AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) annual meeting and TXPO (for transfusion and cell therapy professionals), to be held on October 25-27 of 2009 in New Orleans.