Cryoport Launches CoBRA Index

Cryoport, a cryogenic logistics services provider for the life sciences, has launched the Cryoport Biotech Regenerative Therapy Activity Index (the "CoBRA Index") designed to quantify the activity in the development and clinical trials of regenerative therapies in the U.S., and acts as a means to help evaluate investment in the space.  

Regenerative therapies include various technologies and therapeutic approaches, the majority being cell and gene therapies to treat a wide variety of diseases from hemophilia to cancer. Each of these clinical programs follow complex procedures which are initiated with patient recruitment for trials, pre-treatment medical procedures, manufacturing and product released via complex analytical testing and concluding with patient dosing.

The CoBRA Index measures and distills the data from the flow of the processes against clinical trials and provides a view of the flow of therapy progression within the regenerative medicine space. Consistent or accelerating activity generates larger values which are aggregated into the index number.

Jerrell Shelton, chief executive officer of Cryoport, said, "Cryoport, as the industry leading provider of cryogenic logistics solutions to the Regenerative Therapy industry, has a unique view, in fact, a virtual real-time insight into the progress of this industry. We created the CoBRA Index to provide industry participants and those following the industry with valuable activity and trend information at a time when the industry is reaching an inflection point with many therapies approaching commercialization."

The CoBRA Index draws upon data generated from the regenerative medicine industry since 1Q15. In 4Q16, the CoBRA Index increased approximately 4% to 169, compared with 162 in 3Q16. This compares to 36% growth in the index in 3Q16 against 2Q16.  

According to the company, existing regenerative medicine trials represent 94% of current pharmaceutical research. The outlook remains strong as the first CAR-T program has been filed for FDA approval and five more regenerative therapies have indicated an intent to file for commercial approval in 2017.

As of October, 2016, there has been more than $17 billion invested in the development of regenerative therapies. It is estimated that regenerative therapies will generate more than $50 billion in annual revenues by 2021 and $250 billion by 2025.