Exosomes are small vesicles ranging from 30-100nm in size that are found in nearly all eukaryotic fluids and facilitate a variety of important cellular functions. One of their important functions is to transfer DNA, RNA, and proteins to other cells.

For years, exosomes were considered to be transporters of cellular waste, but now they are becoming recognized for their critical role in cell-to-cell communication and transportation.

Within the cord blood industry, there was a robust growth period during the mid-to-late 2000s. However, over the past several years, the market has matured and consolidated. While strong industry growth has continued within North Asia (particularly within China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan) and Southeast Asia (led by India and Malaysia), growth within the North American and European markets has not been as robust. 

To compete in the global cord blood banking marketplace, you need to be informed about major market forces, including clinical trial data supporting applications for hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from cord blood and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from cord tissue. Within this rapidly evolving industry, those who choose to commit to understanding current conditions will be positioned for a substantial strategic advantage.

Because the global cord blood banking industry has matured substantially over the past few years, new market forces have created both serious threats and novel opportunities. Read on to learn more.

Market Variation within the Global Cord Blood Industry

Cord blood banks now exist within nearly every developed country, as well within most developing nations. However, there is still significant variation within the industry. First, there is the divide between private and public cord blood banking, in which private companies serve individual families, while public banks serve the broader population. Additionally, some cord blood banks receive only units from nearby hospitals and birthing centers, while others allow mail-in units from a diverse geographic region.

Because induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were discovered in 2006, the global market for iPSC products celebrated its 10^th year of existence this year in 2015. Therefore, it is valuable to consider market conditions that have emerged over the previous 10 years, as well as new trends and projections that will affect the industry over the coming five years.

The cord blood banking market has matured substantially over the past few years, creating new threats for market participants, as well as novel investment opportunities. Serious threats to the industry include new accreditation requirements that have increased the cost structure of cord blood banks, expensive cord blood transplantation procedures, difficulty with educating obstetricians about cellular therapies, and more.

Stem cells are primitive cells found in all multi-cellular organisms and are characterized by self-renewal and the capacity to differentiate into any mature cell type. However, it is this primitive nature that intrinsically makes commercializing stem cells a technical, legal and political minefield.

Recently released, the “Complete 2015-16 Global Cord Blood Banking Industry Report” reveals key benchmarks to track and why you should care. Benchmarks are critical to assess, because the global cord blood market has matured substantially over the past few years, creating both serious threats and novel opportunities. 

Therefore, judging individual company performance relative to the broader cord blood marketplace has become substantially more complex.

The induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) market first emerged in 2006, when iPSC technology was pioneered by Shinya Yamanaka’s lab at Kyoto University in Japan. The shocking discovery that the introduction of four transcription factors into adult cells could convert them into pluripotent stem cells sent waves of excitement throughout the scientific community. This landmark event came to represent one of the greatest stem cell research discoveries of all time and was memorialized in 2012, when Dr. Yamanaka and Sir John Gurdon were awarded the Nobel Prize "for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent.” 

As a provider of stem cell products and technologies, you need to make effective product development decisions, generate improved revenues, and take market share from your competition. To do this, you need to be educated about prevailing market conditions. This involves knowing which stem cell types are showing the most promise and understanding methods through which they could be commercialized.

Stem cells are still a relatively new discovery, as the first stem cells were discovered in human cord blood in 1978, the first mouse embryonic stem cells were derived in 1981, and it was not until 2006 that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were produced for the first time.