Cook launches new Cook General BioTechnology division

Cook Group has announced the formation of Cook General BioTechnology, a new business unit that will support research into cell-based medical therapies.

The division is being introduced following the group's acquisition of the assets of General BioTechnology, thus adding important new cell and tissue processing and cryopreservation technologies to the company's portfolio.

Complementing the company's existing Cook MyoSite, Cook Pharmica and Cook Biotech operations, the new business has contracts with universities to aid development of advanced cryopreservation and banking procedures.

Other parts of Cook General BioTechnology's operations include the Genesis umbilical cord blood and tissue bank and the Genome Resources reproductive tissue bank.

Dr Neal Fearnot, vice-president of Cook Group and chairman of the MED Institute, said: "Cook Group is positioning our cell therapy portfolio to serve this burgeoning industry, as it is clear that this market is becoming increasingly important to global healthcare advancements."

Last month, the company announced the launch of a number of new biopsy needle products at the Society of Interventional Radiology's annual scientific meeting in San Francisco.