Crioestaminal

Crioestaminal is a Portuguese stem-cell banking and life-sciences brand operated by Stemlab, S.A. Founded in 2003 by scientists associated with the University of Coimbra and professionals in biological sciences, the company built its business around the collection, processing, analysis and long-term cryopreservation of stem cells obtained from umbilical cord blood and tissue. Its services are primarily directed at families seeking private storage, while its laboratory and research activities also support transplantation, clinical trials and the development of advanced cell-therapy products. The company established an important early position in Portugal by becoming the country’s first cryopreservation laboratory authorized by the relevant health authorities and the first Portuguese bank accredited by the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) for the processing, analysis, storage and distribution of cord-blood samples. In 2006 it opened its own laboratory at Biocant Park in Cantanhede, created the molecular-diagnostics business Genelab, and began international activity through operations in Spain and a partnership in Italy. It later acquired the Spanish Celvitae brand and expanded its Portuguese portfolio through the acquisition of the company behind the Bebécord, Mamãs&Bebés and Bebé4D brands. Crioestaminal’s stored material has been used in conventional hematopoietic transplantation and in clinical research. A sibling’s cord-blood sample stored by the company was used in Portugal’s first transplant involving cells held by a private family bank in 2007, for a child with severe combined immunodeficiency. Subsequent releases supported clinical studies involving cerebral palsy and autism, including studies at Duke University in the United States and the CORDUS study in Romania. Other reported clinical uses included treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, severe aplastic anemia and graft-versus-host disease-related research. Beyond banking, Crioestaminal maintains research and development relationships with universities, hospitals and biomedical institutes. Its work has covered mesenchymal cells from cord tissue, cell expansion, wound healing, cardiac and neural regeneration, stroke, cancer research and cell therapies for severe COVID-19 complications. The company has reported four patents arising from three research projects, including a patent concerning a cord-blood-cell gel formulation for chronic diabetic wounds. In 2020 it opened a GMP-certified advanced-therapy medicinal-product laboratory and released an investigational product based on expanded mesenchymal cells for severe graft-versus-host disease. Since 2018, Crioestaminal has belonged to the FamiCord Group, a European network of cord-blood and tissue banks active across more than 30 countries. The brand continues to combine family banking, laboratory services, clinical material release and cell-therapy manufacturing. In 2024 it received a Portuguese license for the distribution of human medicines under good distribution practice and began a partnership with the Champalimaud Foundation involving hematopoietic progenitor samples for patients undergoing autologous transplantation. Its reported customer base has grown from more than 65,000 families in 2015 to more than 120,000 families in later company descriptions.

Crioestaminal was established in Portugal in 2003 by a group combining University of Coimbra scientists with biological-sciences professionals. The company initially focused on private banking of umbilical cord blood, seeking to make collected cells available for possible future transplantation or research. It became the first Portuguese cryopreservation laboratory authorized by the national health authorities and subsequently the first Portuguese cord-blood bank to receive AABB accreditation. A major infrastructure milestone came in 2006, when Crioestaminal opened its own laboratory at Biocant Park in Cantanhede. The same year brought diversification and internationalization: the company created Genelab for molecular diagnostics, began operating in Spain through Crioestaminal Spain in Barcelona, and entered Italy through a local partnership. In 2007, a sibling’s sample stored at Crioestaminal was used in Portugal’s first transplant involving material held by a private family bank, treating a child with severe combined immunodeficiency. From 2009 onward, the company became involved in clinical research beyond established transplantation. It released samples for a Duke University clinical study on cerebral palsy, with further samples sent in 2010 and later years. In 2010 Crioestaminal acquired the Celvitae brand in Madrid and obtained international AABB accreditation covering analysis, processing, storage and distribution of umbilical cord blood. In 2011 it added cryopreservation of mesenchymal stem cells from cord tissue. The company expanded its facilities and capacity during the 2010s. It announced a laboratory-expansion project in 2013 and was repeatedly recognized by Portugal’s Consumer’s Choice program. By 2015 it reported more than 65,000 client families and laboratory capacity for approximately 300,000 samples. That year it extended its international accreditation to cord tissue, presenting itself as the first European laboratory with dual accreditation for cord blood and cord tissue. Clinical releases continued. In 2014, samples were supplied for cerebral-palsy studies, and an autologous cord-blood transplant was performed in Madrid for a six-year-old child with acute myeloid leukemia. In 2018, samples were released for autism research at Duke University. The company also expanded its laboratory to prepare a unit for cell-therapy-drug production. That year it joined FamiCord, a European group of cryopreservation banks, strengthening its access to international infrastructure and markets. In 2019 Crioestaminal released an autologous sample for a Portuguese child with severe aplastic anemia and acquired the company behind several Portuguese maternity and baby-service brands, including Bebécord, Mamãs&Bebés and Bebé4D. In 2020 it opened a GMP-certified laboratory for advanced therapy medicinal products and released SLCTmsc02, an investigational product made by expanding mesenchymal cells from umbilical cord tissue, for severe graft-versus-host disease. The company’s research program has involved the University of Coimbra, Instituto Superior Técnico, hospitals and other biomedical organizations. Projects have addressed chronic wounds, cardiac regeneration, cell expansion, neural repair, stroke, cancer and COVID-19. Crioestaminal has reported four patents from three research and development projects, including a cord-blood-cell gel formulation for diabetic wounds. In 2023 it released two autologous samples for children participating in the CORDUS autism study in Bucharest. In 2024 it obtained a human-medicines distribution license from Infarmed and formed a partnership with the Champalimaud Foundation. In 2025 it reported another cerebral-palsy-related release for treatment at Duke University Children’s Hospital.

• 2024

  Distribution license and Champalimaud partnership

  [1]Crioestaminalen.wikipedia.org

  Infarmed issued a good-distribution-practice license, and Crioestaminal began a transplant-material partnership with the Champalimaud Foundation.

• 2020

  GMP advanced-therapy laboratory opened

  [1]Crioestaminalen.wikipedia.org

  The company opened a GMP-certified laboratory and released the investigational product SLCTmsc02.

• 2018

  Joined FamiCord

  [1]Crioestaminalen.wikipedia.org

  Crioestaminal became part of the FamiCord Group and expanded preparation for cell-therapy-drug production.

• 2015

  Dual cord-blood and cord-tissue accreditation

  [1]Crioestaminalen.wikipedia.org

  Its international accreditation was extended to umbilical cord tissue, alongside reported capacity of 300,000 samples.

• 2011

  Cord-tissue banking launched

  [1]Crioestaminalen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced cryopreservation of mesenchymal stem cells from umbilical cord tissue.

• 2010

  Celvitae acquisition and AABB accreditation

  [1]Crioestaminalen.wikipedia.org

  Crioestaminal acquired Spain’s Celvitae brand and obtained international AABB accreditation for cord blood.

• 2007

  First Portuguese private-bank transplant

  [1]Crioestaminalen.wikipedia.org

  A sibling’s sample stored at Crioestaminal was used to treat severe combined immunodeficiency.

• 2006

  Biocant laboratory opens

  [1]Crioestaminalen.wikipedia.org

  The company opened its own laboratory at Biocant Park and created Genelab for molecular diagnostics.

• 2003

  Company founded

  [1]Crioestaminalen.wikipedia.org

  Crioestaminal was founded in Portugal by University of Coimbra scientists and biological-sciences professionals.

A science-led Portuguese provider of family stem-cell banking, accredited biobanking and emerging cell-therapy services, emphasizing laboratory quality, clinical access, research partnerships and continuity of sample storage.

• Stem-cell banking · 2003

  Cord blood banking

  Collection, laboratory processing, testing and cryogenic storage of hematopoietic stem cells from umbilical cord blood. Stored units may be released for compatible family transplantation, clinical research or other authorized medical uses.

• Stem-cell banking · 2011

  Cord tissue banking

  Cryopreservation of umbilical cord tissue containing mesenchymal stem cells. The service supports family storage and provides material for research into regenerative medicine and cell-based therapies.

• Advanced therapy medicinal product · 2020

  SLCTmsc02

  An investigational cell-therapy product made by expanding mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord tissue. The product was released in 2020 for investigation in severe graft-versus-host disease.

• Molecular diagnostics · 2006

  Genelab

  A molecular-diagnostics business created by Crioestaminal in 2006, using molecular-biology techniques for diagnostic applications.

• 2020

  Launch of GMP cell-therapy productionProduct launch

  Background

  The company expanded beyond sample banking into regulated manufacturing of advanced therapy medicinal products.

  Action taken

  Crioestaminal opened a GMP-certified production laboratory and released the investigational SLCTmsc02 product.

  Aftermath

  The move established a platform for manufacturing cell products derived from umbilical cord tissue.

  Source

• 2018

  FamiCord Group integrationM&A

  Background

  Crioestaminal sought to reinforce its position in cryopreservation while gaining membership in a larger European banking network.

  Action taken

  The company joined the FamiCord Group.

  Aftermath

  Crioestaminal continued operating as a local brand while participating in the group’s international stem-cell banking and cell-therapy platform.

  Source

1. 1Crioestaminalen.wikipedia.org