Cord blood Stem Cell gives new lease of life to Thamirabharuni and hope to thousands of others suffering from Thalassemia (Chennai, September 16, 2009)

India’s first successful stem cell transplant using a sibling’s cord blood stem cells

Senthil Kumar and his family got a reason to smile, as their eight-year-old daughter Thamirabharuni got healed of Thalassemia, through cord blood stem cell transplantation. For six and a half years Thamirabharuni suffered from this fatal disease, going through painful blood transfusion and medication until stem cell transplantation using cord blood stem cells gave Thamirabharuni a new lease of life and a complete freedom from the pain of going through monthly blood transfusions.

Thalassemia is among the most common genetic diseases worldwide. Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form of hameoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells and causes severe anemia that can occur within months after birth. The diseased person has to undergo monthly blood transfusion. If left untreated, severe anemia can result in insufficient growth and development, as well as other common physical complications that can lead to a dramatically decreased life-expectancy.

A newborn sibling’s umbilical cord blood provides a better chance of HLA matching as there is a 25% chance for a perfect match, and 50% chance for a partial match. Also using a sibling’s cord blood for transplant lowers the chances of donor rejection, and is therefore considered as a preferred source for transplantation compared to using stem cells from a non-related source.

Dr. Revathy Raj who examined Thamirabharuni, had recommended her to start on iron reducing medication initially. She had asked Mr. Senthil Kumar and his wife to consider another pregnancy and go for umbilical cord blood stem cell banking. With a pre-natal test it was also confirmed that the foetus was not affected with Thalassemia.

“I came to know about my daughter’s condition when she was one-and-half-years old. Being a carpenter by profession, bearing the medical expenses was really difficult for us. We approached various societies and LifeCell International, for financial assistance. LifeCell helped us to preserve my son’s Pugazhendhi, cord blood stem cells free of cost at their center in Chennai. Today, with the guidance of the Doctors and with the aid of LifeCell International, Pugazhendhi has become a means for his sister’s survival from Thalassemia. I would like to thank all the kind souls- my friends, doctors, well wishers, anonymous donors who helped and guided me at different stages,” says Mr. Senthil Kumar- Thamirabharuni’s father.

For a year, the extracted cord blood stem cells were preserved under specific conditions. HLA test was done which proved that the tissues of both the children matched and the treatment could proceed. The first step was to destroy all the existing bone marrow cells for which chemotherapy was used. Then the donor’s stem cells were injected in the patient body. The procedure requires no surgery! explains Dr Revathy Raj.

In March 2009, the stem cells transplantation was done by Dr. Revathy Raj at the Apollo Hospital and it helped Thamirabharuni get rid of Thalassemia. The stem cells that were transplanted came from her brother’s cord blood and his bone marrow as there was deficient amount of stem cells in Pugazhendhi cord blood.

When they used the needles for blood transfusion it would hurt… and sometimes they would never get the vein but still I had to go for blood transfusion every month. My Brother’s cord blood saved me or I knew I wouldn’t have been alive for long. I love my brother, Says Thamirabharuni.

Mr. Mayur Abhaya, President and Executive Director, LifeCell International says, “We at LifeCell would like to congratulate Mr. Senthil Kumar and his family on

Thamirabharuni’s triumph over Thalassemia. This success I am sure will give new hope to thousands of families whose children are unfortunately the victim of this dreadful disease. It feels very fulfilling that LifeCell could make an impact in a child’s life… we are very happy to be a part of this success story.”

Every year 10,000 children with Thalassemia major are born in India, which constitutes 10% of the total number in the world, and one out of every 8 carriers of Thalassemia worldwide lives in India .Thanks to this revolutionary development in the stem cell industry, several life threatening diseases like Thalassemia, Leukaemia etc., can now be treated completely with no surgery involved.

About LifeCell International: LifeCell is India’s first & largest umbilical cord blood stem cell bank to bring the revolutionary concept of banking a baby’s umbilical cord blood stem to the country. LifeCell facilitates the cryogenic preservation of stem cells in technological collaboration with Cryo-Cell International Inc, USA - the world’s largest and oldest stem cell bank with more than 16 years of expertise in stem cell banking.

LifeCell in the past 4 years has positioned itself as leaders in the Industry and was recently accredited by AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) for adopting their international standards and today LifeCell is the “First AABB Accredited Stem Cell Bank in India” and recognized by DSIR, Govt. of India for R&D. Today LifeCell has over thousands of members who have preserved their baby’s cord blood stem cells and has over 50 centers across India and abroad. The company will soon be launching another revolutionary service in Stem Cell Banking - Menstrual Blood Stem Cell Banking, for every woman to preserve her stem cells and potentially secure her future from life-threatening diseases. With addition of this service LifeCell will become the first & only comprehensive stem cells solutions provider in the world to offer a complete spectrum of services in stem cells through multi-service banking, R&D, Clinical Trials and Stem Cell Therapy.

For further information please contact:

V. Ravi Shankar
General Manager
Corporate Communications & Marketing
LifeCell International
Handphone: 9677003344

Shikha / Neha/ Ritu Bagri
Hanmer MS&L
Handphone: 9952998134/ 9840246513/ 9884173290