A market still toddling through
The first private stem cell bank in the country was inaugurated in summer last year, at Cluj Napoca, but the procedure is no news to some Romanians, that already use these services but of off-shore banks. Reversely, Romanian banks also have requests from abroad, like Biogenis.
Calomfirescu says the company receives stem cell storage requests from Italy, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Moldova and Bulgaria. In some of these countries, like Italy and France, private banks are prohibited, as stem cell research is endorsed and financed by the state, while in other cases, like Moldova, the market is almost inexistent.
Within less than a year, other centers were opened, Romanian clients having the possibility of storing stem cells exclusively in Romania. A first step was made by the opening in spring this year of Stem Health Unirea, the result of a joint venture between Centrul Medica Unirea and Greece-based Hygeia Group.
The bank will have the capacity to store up to 6,000 units of blood from the umbilical cord, following to extend it to 10,000 units by year-end. Versus previously estimated 1,500 units to be housed by the storage facility, SHU will end year with 800 that will generate around €1 million in revenues. “After the initial investment in the opening of the bank, we have continued investing in the know-how and staff training, operating breakeven being expected to be reached by the end of the year”, said Andreia Valter (photo), managing director of SHU.
Calomfirescu says the company receives stem cell storage requests from Italy, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Moldova and Bulgaria. In some of these countries, like Italy and France, private banks are prohibited, as stem cell research is endorsed and financed by the state, while in other cases, like Moldova, the market is almost inexistent.
Within less than a year, other centers were opened, Romanian clients having the possibility of storing stem cells exclusively in Romania. A first step was made by the opening in spring this year of Stem Health Unirea, the result of a joint venture between Centrul Medica Unirea and Greece-based Hygeia Group.
The bank will have the capacity to store up to 6,000 units of blood from the umbilical cord, following to extend it to 10,000 units by year-end. Versus previously estimated 1,500 units to be housed by the storage facility, SHU will end year with 800 that will generate around €1 million in revenues. “After the initial investment in the opening of the bank, we have continued investing in the know-how and staff training, operating breakeven being expected to be reached by the end of the year”, said Andreia Valter (photo), managing director of SHU.