FDA Approves First Umbilical Cord Blood
Product
11/11/11
FRIDAY, Nov. 11 (HealthDay News) -- The first product in the
United States that uses human umbilical cord stem cells to treat
disorders of the hematopoietic (blood-forming) system has been
approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Hemacord was approved for treating conditions including certain
blood cancers and disorders of the immune system, the agency said
in a news release.
The product contains blood-forming progenitor cells that when
infused into patients, travel to the bone marrow, then divide and
mature. Once the mature cells move into the bloodstream, they can
help restore typical blood-cell function, boosting the immune
system, the FDA said.
However, the product's label warns of potential reactions
including fatal cases of Graft Versus Host Disease, engraftment
syndrome, graft failure or infusion reactions, the agency
stressed.
Hemacord was created by the New York City-based New York Blood
Center.
More information
To learn more about the use of hematopoietic stem cells, visit
the U.S.
National Institutes of Health.
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