U.S. FDA approves first cord blood product

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday approved HEMACORD, the first licensed hematopoietic progenitor cells-cord cell therapy. HEMACORD is indicated for use in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation procedures in patients with disorders affecting the blood forming system. For example, cord blood transplants have been used to treat patients with certain blood cancers and some inherited metabolic and immune system disorders. "The use of cord blood hematopoietic progenitor cell therapy offers potentially life-saving treatment options for patients with these types of disorders," said Karen Midthun, director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a statement. HEMACORD contains hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) from human cord blood. Cord blood is one of three sources of HPCs used in transplants. The other two are bone marrow and peripheral blood. Once these HPCs are infused into patients, the cells migrate to the bone marrow where they divide and mature. When the mature cells move into the bloodstream they can partially or fully restore the number and function of many blood cells, including immune function.