GE Gets Distribution Rights to Blood Platform

Under the terms of a new agreement, GE Healthcare (Chalfont St. Giles, UK) has exclusive global distribution rights to Thermogenesis Corp's (Rancho Cordova, CA, USA) closed automated AXP system for harvesting mononuclear cells (MNC) from cord blood.

MNC cells contain the hematopoietic stem cells used to treat more than 60 malignant, genetic, and acquired diseases, such as leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and immunodeficiency. The AXP system provides cord blood banks with a reproducible, automated solution to capture cells and lower labor costs. This fully closed, sterile system processes up to six cord blood samples in a standard blood bank centrifuge while retaining an average of 98% MNC.

In addition to the rights for the AXP AutoEpress platform, GE will also have distribution rights to the BioArchive system of Thermogenesis. This is a computer-controlled cryopreservation and storage system for cord blood, currently used by more than 60 blood banks in more than 25 countries. Initially, GE's distribution of the products will be in North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East and Gulf regions. GE and Thermogenesis have also announced an R&D collaboration to develop product line extensions for the AXP and BioArchive platforms.

"The AXP platform and BioArchive system will complement GE Healthcare's world-leading cell-separation reagent portfolio, as they provide both a ‘closed system' of precisely capturing specific cell populations residing within blood, and an automated cryogenic system that assures the stored cells remain viable for weeks or even years,” said Peter Ehrenheim, president of Protein Separations for GE healthcare.




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