TIDMWDC
RNS Number : 8845I
WideCells Group PLC
05 September 2016
5 September 2016
WideCells Group PLC ('WideCells Group' or 'the Company')
Launches WideCells Brasil
WideCells Group PLC, the healthcare services company focused on
collecting and storing stem cells and providing ground breaking
insurance for stem cell treatment, is delighted to announce the
launch of WideCells Brasil, its umbilical cord blood processing and
storage facility in São Paulo, Brazil ('the Facility'). The launch
follows a 2016 licensing agreement between the Company's wholly
owned stem cell storage division, WideCells, and Biocells Brasil,
the owner of the Facility, which has been in operation since 2012
and has an established client base of circa 400 clients.
Overview:
-- Established regional management team with proven operating
experience both within the stem cell industry and regionally -
includes Luiz Sardinha, the former COO of Coca-Cola Brasil (10,000+
employees and BRL4.9 billion) for 35 years, who has joined
WideCells Brasil's Board as COO and has taken a 10% stake, which is
testament to the strong market potential of the stem cell services
industry
-- Facility provides WideCells Group with unrivalled opportunity
to penetrate the Brazilian cord blood banking market which is
projected to be worth US$445 million by 2023, the largest in South
America's booming stem cell industry
-- Presents strong revenue opportunity - WideCells to receive a
royalty payment for every stem cell storage offering sold
o The initial collection is charged at US$1,000 which includes
the first year's storage fee
o Stem cell storage facilities benefit from a recurring revenue
model given the annual storage fee of US$150, which is normally
extended over a number of decades
o Customers can also purchase a long-term storage plan (usually
5 or 10 years), providing excellent visibility on earnings
-- The Facility's current umbilical cord processing and storage
service has been re-branded as WideCells' registered trademark
-- Company in ongoing discussions with additional companies in
line with strategy to capture an increasing share of the cord blood
storage market globally by securing licence agreements with
existing facilities
-- Licensing agreements would provide WideCells Group with an
existing and engaged customer base to roll out its brand and
products
WideCells CEO João Andrade said, "With the market for processing
and storing stem cells from cord blood in Brazil and South America
established and growing rapidly, the launch of WideCells Brasil is
a milestone moment for the Company both in terms of our brand
expansion and our revenue potential. Our ambition is to become the
go-to provider of a pioneering end-to-end stem cell services
solution that enables families globally to protect those most
important to them from disease in a financially accessible way.
Given the Facility's established client base, we have a significant
opportunity to penetrate an existing, compelling market whilst also
generating recurring revenues through the provision of additional
storage and healthcare services. Over the coming months, we will
look forward to expanding our portfolio of stem cell storage
facilities by completing work at our building in Manchester."
Further Information
The Facility has been operating since 2012 and is currently
owned by Biocells Brasil. With an established client base of circa
400 clients, the Facility provides WideCells with a compelling
market through which it can roll out its stem cell processing and
storage offerings, which include LipoCells (adipose tissue storage
and processing), TeethCells (dental pulp storage and processing)
and OssGraft (synthetic bone). The Facility's current umbilical
cord processing and storage service will be re-branded as
BabyCells. The initial collection is charged at US$1,000 which
includes the first year's storage fee. Stem cell storage facilities
benefit from a recurring revenue model given the annual storage fee
of US$150, which is normally extended over a number of decades.
Customers can also purchase a long-term storage plan (usually 5 or
10 years), providing visibility on earnings over the mid to long
term. Each stem cell storage offering will be delivered in return
for a royalty payment to WideCells, thereby expected to provide a
separate stream of revenue. The WideAcademy, which is aimed at
educating the medical community regarding the benefits of stem cell
storage with the aim of increasing uptake of the offering, will
also be delivered through the Facility.
South America's cord blood banking services market has
experienced exciting growth in recent years, as medical
professionals realise the benefit that blood derived from umbilical
cords can play in the delivery of innovative treatments for
diseases including cancers, immune conditions and metabolic
disorders. With Brazil leading the way as the largest cord blood
banking services provider in a market estimated to be worth US$196m
in 2014, and projections that it will reach US$445m by 2023, the
South American market for stem cell collection has significant
potential and the agreement with Biocells and the launch of the
Facility offers an attractive opportunity to penetrate this
compelling market. Circa 3 million births were recorded in Brazil
in 2015 and notably there are currently only 12 cord storage
facilities available in Brazil to service this significant and
growing market.
WideCells Brasil Team
André Feldman - CEO
Mr Feldman is a law graduate with over 19 years of experience in
corporate affairs with significant international experience
particularly within the healthcare industry. He has previously
worked at Lucent Technologies, an American multinational
telecommunications equipment company, Vesper S.A, Eli Lilly
Pharmaceutical, a major US pharmaceutical company, and Mednet
Group, an Australian based billing and patient administration
software company supporting the healthcare industry. Mr Feldman is
also CEO and founder of Stem Cell Bank Biocells Brasil and is the
Vice President of the Brazilian Association of Stem Cell Banks
(Associação Brasileira de Bancos de Células Tronco - ABBCT).
Luiz Fernando Sardinha - COO
Mr Sardinha initially graduated in economics, before completing
a post-graduate degree in management and marketing. He has over 30
years of leadership experience in the commercial area of mass
consumption products in the non-alcoholic beverage industry at
leading multinational company Coca-Cola (FEMSA). Within this role
Mr Sardinha was responsible for operational management, including
restructuring projects and implementing cost reductions, and
financial management, relating to pricing, profit margins and
leading negotiations with large chain customers and suppliers.
Daniel Rubim - Medical Director
Dr Rubim qualified as a Doctor from the Itajuba Medical College
in Brazil (FMIt) and as a Master of Medicine from the New
University of Lisbon-Portugal. He is a specialist in Science of
Human Physiology and Regenerative Medicine and has worked as
medical director of the stem cell bank Biocells Brasil with
emphasis on the use of cells in regenerative medicine.
Marta Scomparin - Sales Manager
Ms Scomparin as an Information Technology Analyst and Strategic
Management Specialist who graduated at the State University of
Campinas - UNICAMP. She has over ten years of experience in
customer management, working with large companies in the
pharmaceutical industry and other sectors. Most recently, over the
past four years, she has worked in sales in the stem cell bank
Biocells Brasil.
Rodrigo Peixoto - Administrative Manager
Mr Peixoto graduated from PUC-Campinas in advertising and
subsequently worked as Customer Service Representative for eight
years at IBM Brasil, part of the leading multinational technology
company. Within this role, Mr Peixoto specialised in marketing
contracts, audit contracts, managed help desk accounts and
international maintenance contracts with customer service in Brazil
in Puerto Rico and the US.
Ana Carolina Marchiori - Scientific Director
Ms Marchiori is a qualified Biologist and Master in Molecular
Oncology from the faculty of Medicine of the University of São
Paulo FM-USP. She has also completed a PhD in Cellular and
Molecular Biology from Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de
Mesquita Filho, UNESP, in São Paulo, Brazil. With over 13 years'
experience in Molecular Biology and three years in hematopoietic
stem cells Ms Marchiori is a leading figure in stem cell technology
and was previously responsible for stem cell bank techniques at
Biocells Brasil. During the last three years she has been active in
overseeing the laboratory as Scientific Director.
Flavia Corrocher - Biomedical Technical Officer
Ms Corrocher qualified in Clinical and Molecular Biology and
Biotechnology from the Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de
Mesquita Filho (UNESP) in São Paulo, Brazil and has a PhD in
Medical Sciences from the State University of Campinas-UNICAMP. She
has experience in the manipulation of hematopoietic stem cells and
the development of protocols in the cell culture area, and is
currently responsible for the technical laboratory at WideCells
Brasil.
Fabiane Lamera - Biomedical Specialist
Ms Lamera is a biomedical specialist in Clinical Analysis with a
focus on blood banking. She is currently studying to achieve a
diploma in Biotechnology at the Faculdade Metrocamp in Brazil. In
the past four years she acquired experience in stem cell
manipulation.
**S**
For further information, please visit the Company's website
www.widecellsgroup.com, follow us on Twitter @WideCells_Group or
contact:
WideCells Group CEO - João Andrade Tel: +351 919
033 171
------------------- ------------------------- --------------
Vicarage Capital Broker - Jeremy Woodgate Tel: +44 (0)
Ltd & Rupert Williams 20 3651 2912
------------------- ------------------------- --------------
Shard Capital Broker - Damon Heath Tel: +44 (0)
Partners LLP & Erik Woolgar 207 186 9950
------------------- ------------------------- --------------
St Brides Partners PR - Elisabeth Cowell Tel: +44 (0)
Ltd & Charlotte Heap 20 7236 1177
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Notes to Editors
WideCells Group PLC is building an integrated stem cell services
company, focused on making stem cell treatments accessible and
affordable. The Directors believe that the use of cord blood stem
cells for transplant will drive one of the next important phases in
medicine and is therefore developing market leading products in
complementary, strategic areas which are designed to take advantage
of substantial market opportunities in one of the fastest growing
segments in the healthcare industry. With this in mind, it has
created three divisions:
-- CellPlan: the world's first stem cell healthcare insurance
plan with financial cover for medical treatment, travel and
accommodation expenses and concierge service to manage the
treatment process
-- WideCells: a portfolio of best in class stem cell processing
and cord blood storage facilities with an existing presence in UK
and Brazil
-- WideAcademy: developing an education and training division to
promote awareness of the benefits of stem cell storage across the
global general practice community
The Group has built an experienced senior management team that
has been integral to the development of its growth and business to
date.
Stem Cell Fast Facts:
-- Cord blood (which is taken from the umbilical cord) provides
the most effective source of stem cells for families due to it
being simple, safe and painless to collect relative to other
sources of stem cells such as bone marrow - WideCells will focus on
promoting the collection and storage of this.
-- Since 2005, there has been a 300% increase in the number of
illnesses that can be treated using stem cells
-- 82 illnesses can currently be treated using stem cell procedures
-- Despite initial storage often costing no more than a few
GBPthousand, actual treatment can cost in the GBPhundreds of
thousands
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes
of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014
(MAR).
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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