ALD-101 is a unique population of stem and progenitor cells isolated from the 20% fraction of a banked cord blood unit using ALDAGEN’s proprietary technology.  ALD-101 is administered IV four hours after the 80% fraction of the cord blood unit.  In preclinical testing, ALD-101 has been shown to accelerate engraftment and restoration of several types of blood cells.  ALD-101 is being used to improve clinical outcomes in genetic diseases (with potential in sickle cell anemia and thalessemia) and in malignancies.

About Cord Blood Transplantation

Cord blood transplants are performed to treat pediatric genetic diseases, particularly lysosomal storage disorders, and pediatric hematological malignancies.  Cord blood units are an attractive source for allogeneic transplants because they are recorded in nationally searchable databases and thus immediately available, pre-screened for infectious diseases, previously human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-typed, more easily matched to patients – only 4 of the 6 HLA factors are necessary to be matched and less likely to cause severe Graft Versus Host Disease (GVHD).  Interestingly, children transplanted with allogeneic cords for hematopoeitic cells may have donor cells in other organs and tissues, suggesting that cords also may be useful in tissue repair functions.