Biotech Company Hopes to Create Universal Blood Type
- Editor OGN Daily
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
A biotech startup is developing technology it says could revolutionize the global blood supply by producing universal red blood cells from stem cells on an industrial scale.
RedC Biotech is working to cultivate red blood cells in large bioreactors, potentially generating hundreds of transfusion-ready units at a time. The company’s goal is to provide a reliable and cost-effective supply of blood to hospitals worldwide, bypassing both the limits and availability of human donations.
The company says its lab-grown blood could solve shortages that leave hospitals worldwide without safe, reliable supplies during emergencies, wars and disasters.
If successful, the technology could save millions of lives, particularly in under-developed countries. “You won’t need any donor. You will have one blood type that can fit everybody,” says founder Dr. Ari Gargir. “About 2 million people die around the world from blood loss every year. If we can make blood available everywhere and at every time, we can save many of those lives.”
Inside 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.
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 to ensure reliable access in regions most affected by shortages.