Cordlife
Cordlife Group Limited, is a consumer health company incorporated in May 2001 and one of the leading providers of cord blood and cord lining banking services in Asia. Cordlife has been listed on the mainboard of SGX since March 2012.
Cordlife Group owns the largest network of cord blood banks in Asia with full stem cell processing and storage facilities in six key markets namely Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. Beyond cord blood and cord lining banking, Cordlife offers a comprehensive suite of diagnostics services, particularly for the mother and child segment, including urine-based newborn metabolic screening, non-invasive prenatal testing, paediatric vision screening and family genetic screening services.
In January 2018, Cordlife acquired HealthBaby Biotech Co., Limited, the largest private cord blood bank in Hong Kong. Through its majority-owned subsidiary, Stemlife Berhad in Malaysia, Cordlife controls an indirect stake in Thailand's largest private cord blood bank, Thai Stemlife. Cordlife is also the first Singapore private cord blood bank to provide cord blood and cord lining banking services in Myanmar and Vietnam.
Cordlife's stem cell processing and storage facilities in Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia were accredited by AABB until 2024 when its accreditation was withdrawn
In November 2023, the Ministry of Health of Singapore revealed that Cordlife Group had exposed cryopreserved cord blood units at suboptimal temperatures, damaging the cord blood units belonging to at least 2,150 clients and rendering them unsuitable for stem cell transplant purposes.
History
2001–2007
CordLife pte ltd was incorporated on 2 May 2001, and subsequently received a licence to operate from the Ministry of Health of Singapore in either 2001 or 2002. In 2003, it merged with Cytomatrix LLC, and in June 2004, its holding company Cygenic Limited was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.In 2005, the company then entered the Hong Kong and PRC markets through Cordlife Hong Kong. In 2007, Cygenic Limited was renamed to Cordlife Limited in June, while Cordlife Hong Kong achieved ISO:9001 in August. CyGenics Ltd also received the 'Technology Pioneer' award from the World Economic Forum in 2007.2008–2011
In either 2007 or 2008, their Science Park II facility was launched. In September 2009, they released a cord blood unit for cerebral palsy, while on October 31, Cordlife Limited invested a 10% indirect equity stake in Guangzhou Tianhe Nuoya, a company engaged in providing cord blood banking services in Guangdong province. In 2010, The 10% indirect stake and Cordlife Hong Kong was transferred to the group. In March 2010, Cordlife also released a cord blood unit for treatment of neuroblastoma in Singapore.- Released a cord blood unit for treatment of neuroblastoma in Hong Kong in January 2011
- Launched provision of cord lining banking services in Hong Kong in March 2011
- Cordlife demerged from Cordlife Limited on June 30, 2011; entered into Rights Of First Refusal agreement to acquire relevant businesses in Indonesia, the Philippines and India
- Hong Kong facility accredited by AABB in October 2011
2012–2014
- Launched non-invasive newborn metabolic screening in Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines.
- Extended its strategic alliance and co-operation with CordLabs Asia Pte. Ltd. and CCBC in relation to the provision of human postnatal cord lining storage services to certain territories in the People's Republic of China in March 2014
- Acquired a 19.92% stake in StemLife in October 2013, which was subsequently increased to approximately 31.81% in December 2013, in StemLife Berhad.
- Signed a non-binding term sheet with NYSE-listed China Cord Blood Corporation to jointly explore and develop new services based on cellular technologies in November 2013
- The Group's Indian subsidiary, Cordlife Sciences Pvt. Ltd., introduced a metabolic screening service known as Metascreen in October 2013
- Signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Golden Meditech Holdings Limited in respect of a proposed joint venture in the Shanghai Free Trade Pilot Zone in October 2013
- Launched provision of cord lining banking services in Singapore in May 2013 under its wholly owned subsidiary, Cordlife Technologies Pte Ltd.
- India facility accredited by AABB in July 2013
- Completed the acquisition of the cord blood and cord lining banking businesses and assets in India, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Indonesia from Australia-listed Life Corporation Limited in June 2013
- Cordlife moved to its fully owned, 23,000 square feet office and laboratory facility in A'Posh Bizhub, Yishun
- Acquired 10% of CCBC and disposed 10% indirect equity stake in Guangzhou Tianhe Nuoya in December 2012
- Listed on Mainboard of SGX-ST on March 29, 2012
2015–2018
- HealthBaby Hong Kong launched Metascreen in May 2018.
- Advanced preventive healthcare in Singapore with the launch of new genetic testing service Plumcare DNA Advisor in April 2018.
- Acquired HealthBaby Hong Kong in January 2018.
- Cordlife Philippines achieved accreditation from AABB in July 2017.
- Extended Asia footprint to Vietnam with appointment of marketing agent in February 2017.
- Cordlife India achieved accreditation from College of American Pathologists in November 2016.
- Majority-owned Hong Kong Screening Centre achieved accreditation from CAP in November 2016.
- Appointed a marketing agent in Myanmar to offer cord blood banking and cord lining services in October 2016.
- First in Southeast Asia to be dual-accredited by world-class quality standards: AABB and Fact-Netcord in January 2016.
- First Cord Blood Bank to be named as one of the Best "Under A Billion" Companies by Forbes Asia in 2015.
- First in Singapore to win Frost & Sullivan Singapore Stem Cell Company of the Year Award in October 2015.
2019
- Collaboration with Sandor on diagnostics in India.
- Designation of new Group CEO.
- Healthbaby is the First Private Cord Blood Bank in Hong Kong to Achieve FACT Accreditation.
- Entered into an indicative, non-binding proposal with Global Cord Blood Corporation.
- Geographical expansion in Bangladesh.
- PT.Cordlife Persada is the first Cord Blood Bank in Indonesia to achieve AABB accreditation.
2023–Present
In November 2023, the Ministry of Health of Singapore revealed that Cordlife Group had exposed cryopreserved cord blood units at suboptimal temperatures, damaging the cord blood units belonging to at least 2,150 clients and rendering them unsuitable for stem cell transplant purposes.On 15 December, the company was issued a six-month suspension and had to cease collecting, testing, processing and/or storing any new cord blood and human tissues. The suspension was extended by an additional three months on June 15 for Cordlife to complete the validation of its new cord blood processing method.In March 2024, the group's former CEO and four other board members were arrested and released on bail. In August 2024, Cordlife was permitted to resume services on a limited basis.
Their license was subsequently renewed for one year from 14 January 2025.On 29 September, the Ministry of Health informed Cordlife that their license would be suspended after the midpoint audit found that Cordlife failed to maintain its compliance with various regulatory requirements, including governance, incident reporting and management, as well as processes for collection, testing and processing of new CBUs, the suspension coming into effect from 26 November 2025. In October 2025, Cordlife’s executive chairman resigned less than five months into the position.
On 14 January 2026, Cordlife announced that their cord blood banking service licence was renewed for a year, while its human tissue banking service licence was renewed for two years.
Products and services
Cord Blood Banking
Cord blood banking refers to the collection at birth, processing, testing, cryopreservation and storage of stem cells from the umbilical cord blood. Cord blood, also called "placental blood", is blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta following the birth of a baby and after the umbilical cord is cut. During pregnancy, the umbilical cord functions as a lifeline between mother and child. After a baby's delivery, the cord blood present in the umbilical cord could offer hope for the child or members of the family. Cord blood is a rich source of haematopoietic stem cells, which are primarily responsible for replenishing blood and regenerating the immune system.Cordlife's cord blood banking services are available in the following countries: Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Cord Lining Banking
Cord lining banking refers to the collection, processing, testing, cryopreservation and storage of the lining from an umbilical cord. After the baby is delivered, the umbilical cord is cut and normally discarded with the placenta as medical waste until researchers became aware of its medical potential.Cord lining contains both Epithelial and Mesenchymal stem cells. EpSCs form the soft tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body including cornea, skin, and liver. MSCs are the building blocks of structural tissues of our body such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fibrous tissues and fat.
Cordlife's cord lining banking services are available in the following countries: Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Non-invasive Newborn Metabolic Screening
Newborn metabolic screening screens for inborn errors of metabolism from urine samples that can impact the health of newborns. Metabolic disorders are usually not apparent at the time of birth. If left undiagnosed and untreated, the baby can suffer from neurological impairment and physical deformities.Cordlife has already launched this newborn metabolic screening test in the following countries: Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.