- RedC Biotech develops technology to produce universal red blood cells that can be transfused to all patients.
- The technology eliminates the need for blood donors by cultivating blood cells from stem cells in large bioreactors.
- Approximately 2 million people die annually from blood loss and could be saved if blood becomes available everywhere.
One blood type for all patients
The Israeli biotech company RedC Biotech is working to create red blood cells that can be given to all patients regardless of blood type.
“You won’t need any donor. You will have one blood type that can fit everybody,” says founder Dr. Ari Gargir.
The technology is based on cultivating red blood cells from stem cells in large bioreactors. Each bioreactor can produce hundreds of transfusion-ready units simultaneously.
Stem cells cultivated into millions of blood cells
The process begins with stem cells that can divide and expand indefinitely under the right conditions.
In RedC’s laboratory, stem cells are stored at temperatures below minus 150 degrees Celsius. When thawed and cultivated, each dot visible on a culture plate represents a single cell that grows into millions.
Millions of lives can be saved
Approximately 2 million people die worldwide every year from blood loss. If blood becomes available everywhere and at any time, many of these lives can be saved.
In advanced countries like Israel, Europe and the Far East, there are transient shortages. In less advanced countries and regions, there are great shortages, and many people die from insufficient blood or blood that is not at the right standards.
Industrial production in sight
The vision is to produce in large bioreactors of thousands of liters at a time. Each vessel will produce hundreds of blood units that are harvested, tested, packed, and sent to hospitals around the world.
RedC Biotech is now working to scale up its operations with plans to progress toward preclinical and clinical trials and eventually full-scale manufacturing. The company envisions factories worldwide producing universal red blood cells under local regulations.
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