Russia?s first Center for Genetics and Regenerative Medicine opened in Moscow

Human Stem Cell Institute, a publicly traded Russian biotech company, has opened Russia?s first Center for Genetics and Regenerative Medicine.

Human Stem Cell Institute (HSCI), a publicly traded Russian biotech company, announced last week that it has opened Russia?s first Center for Genetics and Regenerative Medicine (HSCI CGRM). In addition to making drugs and offering services developed by HSCI, the new lab and production complex is expected to enter contract relationships with other Russian and international cell-based product developers to bring their solutions to market. Another goal is to increase the efficiency and affordability of preclinical and clinical trial testing of cell-based drugs, and to facilitate their production and marketing. The new Center broke ground two years ago, and it has taken HSCI less than 15 months to complete the project, investing its own funds and using a loan from Sberbank, Russia?s largest bank. The project owner has not disclosed the exact amount of money invested, but it is generally known that such centers typically cost at least $10m. The Center includes clean R&D room facilities and production areas, and also an automated cryo-storage facility to keep cell drugs and other products at a temperature of as low as minus 196 degrees Celsius...