About WideCells Group PLC (LON:WDC)
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. Keeping this in mind, WideCells Group PLC has created three divisions:
• CellPlan: The world’s first stem cell healthcare insurance plan providing financial cover for a second medical opinion and recommendation of the best transplant centre worldwide, private cord blood transplantation costs, travel to treatment centre where required, accommodation expenses and concierge service to manage the whole transplant process.
• WideCells: The WideCells Institute of Stem Cell Technology (ISCT) has been established and is based in the University of Manchester Innovation Centre. The focus is on stem cell research and regenerative medicine. The WideCells ISCT also has a Cryogenics division specialising in cell freezing and long term stem cell storage.
• WideAcademy: Developing an education and training division to promote understanding of the benefits of stem cell storage and treatment across the global medical, patient and cord blood client and lay community.
The WideCells Group has built an experienced Senior Management Team which has been integral to the development of its growth and business to date.
Cord Blood Stem Cell Facts:
• Umbilical cord blood (the blood remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta following the birth of a baby) provides the most effective source of haemopoietic stem cells for families. Collection of cord blood at birth is simple, safe and painless compared to other sources of haemopoietic stem cells such as bone marrow which requires a general anaesthetic and a surgical procedure to collect – WideCells will focus on promoting the collection and storage of umbilical cord blood.
• Since 2005, there has been a 300% increase in the number of illnesses that can be treated using cord blood stem cells reflecting its use in the treatment of blood disorders.
• Cord blood is currently in clinical trial for the treatment of cerebral palsy which is a neurological disorder.
• 82 different blood disorders have been treated using cord blood stem cell transplantation.
• Despite initial cord blood collection, processing and storage often costing no more than a few thousand Pounds, cord blood stem cell transplantation for blood disorders costs hundreds of thousands of Pounds.
• Successful IPO on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange following £2 million raise to build an integrated stem cell support services company
• Three distinct divisions WideCells, CellPlan and WideAcademy, focused on making stem cell treatment more accessible and affordable as well as improving research and development
(‘R&D’) to further advancements in stem cell technology.
• WideCells launch of WideCells Brasil, its umbilical cord blood processing and storage facility in São Paulo, Brazil
• 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.
• 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.
• Launch and rollout of innovative insurance product CellPlan, the world’s first insurance plan and medical concierge service for the cord blood stem cell industry
• Provides affordable access to cutting edge stem cell treatments, which can currently be used to treat up to 82 blood disorders.
• First definitive agreement with Biovault Technical Limited (‘Biovault’), the UK’s leading cord blood storage facility, providing access to its extensive customer base and a long-term revenue stream.
• Letters of Intent (‘LOI’) signed with two further cord blood banks to support continued rollout within Europe and South America.
• New revenue stream identified following establishment of WideCells Institute of Stem Cell Technology (ISCT) at the University of Manchester Innovation Centre (‘UMIC’)
• The Group’s first UK-based stem cell processing and storage facility.
• Agreement signed with innovative North American medical device company, Qigenix, to undertake contract stem cell research worth £100,000. The first payment of £25,000, which is
binding under the LOI, was paid to WideCells at the end of December 2016, representing the first revenue from this source. Subsequent payments will be at the commencement of laboratory research (£25,000) and the final payment at the delivery of the final research report to the client (£50,000).
• Development of ten online short courses on stem cell technology in partnership with the University of Westminster
• World-class leadership team secured, and a number of key managerial appointments made, to drive forward a strategy to deliver ground breaking services to the stem cell industry
• The team is further strengthened by the appointment as a non-executive director of Dr Marilyn Orcharton, a qualified dentist and co-founder of Denplan, the UK’s dental payment
plan specialist.
• Alan Greenberg, former Head of Apple Education for Europe and Asia, appointed to the Board as non-Executive Director and as Vice-President of WideAcademy.
