Family Bank: Swiss Stem Cells Biotech

About

Swiss Stem Cells Biotech AG (SSCB), is part of the Swiss Stem Cells Solutions Group. A group that  enables us to satisfy the needs of families when it comes to regenerative medicine and to provide the best assistance regarding stem cells. We have brought together research, consultation, production, and application under the same brand. Swiss Stem Cells Solutions is able to meet all of needs in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine. A long history of experience, quality and reliability over the years ensures patients and partners a collaboration with a dependable and recognized partner.

Labs and Locations

SSCB owns its own laboratory in Switzerland; the laboratory locaton is shown on the map. The corporate headquarters are located: Klausstrasse 10, CH–8008 Zürich, Switzerland. The SSCB laboratory is a complete in-house solution, 100% and exclusively in Switzerland, with FACT accreditation. SSCB has an “open doors transparency policy” – parents and partners can visit the premises any time and book in advance to receive a guided tour.

Business Experience

Swiss Quality. We are a Swiss company that guarantees our customers that all steps of the process are carried out in Switzerland. With us you have the certainty that the samples remain in Switzerland at all times and for the entire storage period. We work transparently and offer our customers detailed insights into our premises and our work processes.

Collaboration with the Swiss Stem Cell Foundation (SSCF). The SSCF is an independent non-profit foundation that unites some of the best researchers and scientists in the field of regenerative medicine. Thanks to close cooperation with several entities and universities, it also allows access to an international network of specialists who represent the cutting-edge research in this field. Their mission to advance research opens the door to innovation.

Best Quality manufacturing. SSCB was founded in 2005 by a group of forward-thinking researchers and medical professionals working at the Cardiocentro Ticino in Lugano (Switzerland). A precursor in the field of cord stem cell cryopreservation, the laboratory was the first family biobank in Switzerland, and the first in Europe to be accredited to FACT-Netcord standards. FACT carries out independent quality checks on the laboratory every three years to ensure that high standards are maintained. SSCB is also GMP compliant and certified which allows its products to be considered Advanced cellular Therapy Medicinal POroducts (ATMP) under EU regulations. With these characteristics, SSCB ensures patients the same quality standards as public banks, making it the only one in Switzerland to collaborate with the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) as a hybrid bank  (both private and public).

International Network of Clinics. Swiss Stem Cells Solutions collaborates with all clinics in Switzerland, so that its patients have access to a full range of personalized services which will allow them to directly benefit from all the advantages of modern and personalized medicine. Stem cells should not be an insurance, but an opportunity to get the result that you seek.

Collection Kit

Validated Fact-Netcord approved Kits.

Transportation container

SSCB collection kit includes a thermometer datalogger. The SSCB kit has been validated to maintain a suitable temperature to ensure the viability of the stem cells apart from any external temperature for a duration of 72 hours.

Shipping Info

Shipping is included in the base price within Switzerland, costs extra from outside. SSCB works with specialized transportation companies to insure the delivery of the samples from all of Switzerland in a matter of a few hours to the local laboratory, insuring quality of processed samples. If necessary, employees of the bank pick up the cord blood from the hospitals. The laboratory works on weekends and even night ships if necessary to insure the processing time and quality of the samples.

Processing Method

Cord Blood: plasma and red blood cells reduction with semi-automated equipment (Sepax 2) and Hydroxy-Ethyl-Starch.

Cord Tissue: tissue are processed in full compliance to GMP aseptic manufacturing guidelines.

Components Stored

Parents are provided with a certificate describing test results (initial and final volume, total cell counts, hematopoietic stem cell CD34+ subpopulation, viability). The component stored is the buffy coat layer of the separated blood holding white cells and stem cells, as well as a sample of maternal blood, and 3 cord blood testing portions.

Storage Method

Final storage is in blood bags, they are placed in metal storage cassettes and encased with over wrap.

Licensing & Accreditation

• SSCB is licensed and continuously inspected by Swissmedic, Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products -- the Swiss federal authority which supervises quality and safety within the medical field. This ensures compliance with GMP and GDP standards.
• In 2012 SSCB became the first cord blood bank in Switzerland to achieve FACT-Netcord accreditation. This has been maintained continuously with inspections every three years.
• Recently, due to their excellent quality standards, SSCB was selected by the Ministry of Health to partner in a hybrid banking program, offering parents both private storage and public donation of cord blood.

Clinical Experience

Since 2005, SSCB has been offering the cryopreservation service of umbilical cord stem cells and today also stem cells from adipose tissue. We now store more than 26,000 stem cell samples in our laboratory. We have released 3 family cord blood collections for autologous therapy and over 400 mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) releases from the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) have been performed to date.

Insurance

Optional protection program possible: Family will receive a monetary amount in the event of a transplant or other stem cell therapy.

Prices

MyBabyCells Basic. Preservation of Cord blood or Cord tissue for a Storage Period of 25 years, all inclusive price CHF 3400.

MyBabyCells Complete. Preservation of both Cord blood and Cord tissue for a storage period of 25 years, all inclusive price CHF 3990. (Special discounts for returning clients, twin/multiple births)

Payment plans available upon request.

Additional Services

• Newborn DNA Storage
• Newborn testing for intolerances predisposition
• Additional storage years added to the contract
• For adults: Cryopreservation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC)  from adipose tissue