What CellResearch Corporation does

CellResearch Corporation Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based, privately held biotechnology company founded in 2002 that pioneered the isolation of epithelial and mesenchymal stem cells from the umbilical cord lining membrane in 2004. Its proprietary platform technology yields an average of 6 billion EpSCs and 6 billion MSCs per cord at Passage 1, with cells maintaining phenotype and karyotype through Passage 30 — a scale and purity advantage over bone marrow and adipose-derived alternatives. The company commercializes this platform through four business segments: (1) CorLiCyte, a cGMP-grade live mesenchymal stem cell therapy for diabetic foot ulcers that completed USFDA Phase 1 trials in September 2022; (2) CALECIM Professional cosmeceutical skincare and Sollagen diabetic skincare, both powered by the proprietary PTT-6 ingredient, sold through 600+ aesthetic physicians and clinics in 23+ countries plus direct e-commerce; (3) cord tissue banking licensing through wholly-owned subsidiaries CordLabs and CordLabs Asia to partners including CordLife, StemCyte, and China Cord Blood Corporation, with a GlobalCord Registry of 42,000+ members; and (4) contract research services for wound healing, skin biology, and drug discovery.

The company's revenue model combines licensing royalties and registry membership fees (cord banking), recurring physician-dispensed and DTC product sales (cosmeceuticals), and one-time licensing/eventual product sales for therapeutics. During the 2020 pandemic, CellResearch pivoted commercially toward premium skincare and hair care, growing from zero to $25 million in revenue by 2025. It is supported by S$16 million in Singapore government grants (including a joint laboratory with A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology), patent coverage in 40+ territories, regulatory designations including the UK MHRA Innovation Passport and EMA SME status, and a Scientific Advisory Board featuring former IDF president Andrew Boulton and Apligraf inventor Paul Kemp. The company has signaled consideration of a NASDAQ listing and is actively expanding CALECIM Professional into direct-to-consumer channels in the US, Europe, and China.

CellResearch serves three primary customer segments: aesthetic physicians and clinics (mid-market enterprise channel), individual consumers purchasing anti-aging skincare through DTC and clinic channels, and healthcare providers/clinical trial centers for therapeutic applications such as diabetic foot ulcer treatment. Its cord tissue banking licensing serves parents indirectly through partnered cord blood banks. The company operates from its Singapore headquarters at 137 Market Street and an R&D laboratory in Ayer Rajah Industrial Park, with distribution partners spanning Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Name

CellResearch Corporation

Legal name

CellResearch Corporation Pte Ltd

Website

https://cellresearchcorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CellResearch Corporation is a Singapore-based biotech that pioneered umbilical cord lining stem cell technology, commercializing it through CALECIM Professional cosmeceutical skincare (sold in 23+ countries via 600+ clinics and DTC), cord tissue banking licensing, and the CorLiCyte stem cell therapy for diabetic foot ulcers (FDA Phase 1 complete).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Stem Cell Biotechnology

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Blood and Organ Banks (621991), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Stem Cell–Based Regenerative Therapies (HLAAAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stem Cell Therapies (MSC/iPSC/HSC-derived) (HLAAABAE), Skin Substitutes & Biologic/Regenerative Wound Therapies (Matrices, Grafts) (HLAHALAE), Cell Therapy Manufacturing Services (GMP, autologous/allogeneic) (HLAAAKAC), Cell & Tissue Banking (biobanking, cord blood/tissue) (HLAAAGAE), Wound Healing & Skin Regeneration (advanced dressings, skin substitutes) (HLAAAGAG)

Keywords

• Stem cell biotechnology
• Cosmeceutical skincare
• Cord tissue banking
• Regenerative therapeutics
• Contract research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Cosmeceutical Product Sales: Sale of CALECIM Professional skincare and Sollagen diabetic skincare products through direct e-commerce and clinical/aesthetic physician distribution. Products use cord lining stem cell media as active ingredient. Sold in over 600 premium aesthetic clinics globally.
2. Cord Tissue Banking Licensing: Licensing proprietary cord lining tissue banking technology to cord blood bank partners globally. Partners include CordLife, StemCyte, and others in India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, USA. Revenue from licensing fees and GlobalCord Registry membership fees.
3. Contract Research Services: In-vitro cell research services for wound healing, skin biology, drug discovery using company's cell strains and expertise. Includes 3D skin models, angiogenesis models, and various cell culture services.
4. Therapeutic Development (Pipeline): CorLiCyte stem cell therapy for diabetic foot ulcers in Phase 1 FDA trials. Revenue anticipated from future therapeutic product sales upon regulatory approval.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CellResearch Corporation isolates and processes Epithelial and Mesenchymal Stem Cells from the umbilical cord lining membrane, then commercializes the technology through four lines of business: a clinical-stage stem cell therapy (CorLiCyte) for diabetic foot ulcers, physician-dispensed and DTC cosmeceutical skincare brands (CALECIM Professional and Sollagen), licensing of cord tissue banking technology to cord blood banks with the GlobalCord Registry, and contract cell research services. The proprietary PTT-6 complex derived from cord lining stem cell media powers the skincare range.

Product overview

CellResearch Corporation operates as a biotech company with a diversified product portfolio built around its patented umbilical cord lining stem cell technology. The core platform technology involves isolating and processing epithelial and mesenchymal stem cells from the umbilical cord lining membrane. The company commercializes this platform through multiple business segments: (1) Therapeutics - lead product CorLiCyte® is a stem cell therapy for diabetic foot ulcers undergoing FDA clinical trials; (2) Cosmeceuticals - CALECIM® Professional and Sollagen™ skincare products powered by PTT-6™ ingredient derived from cord lining stem cells; (3) Cord Banking - licensing proprietary technology to cord blood bank partners with GlobalCord Registry for tracking; and (4) Contract Research Services - providing in-vitro cell research to laboratories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CALECIM Professional: Anti-aging skincare range powered by umbilical cord lining stem cell technology, physician-dispensed products for in-clinic and at-home use
• SOLLAGEN
• CALECIM Cosmeceuticals
• CORLVET
• CORLINEX
• GlobalCord
• CorLiCyte
• Sodago

Products and services

• CALECIM Professional Physician-dispensed professional skincare range powered by umbilical cord lining stem cell-derived PTT-6 complex; anti-aging, hair regrowth, and post-procedure skin recovery products sold to aesthetic physicians, plastic surgeons, and premium clinics in 23 countries and via direct e-commerce.
• Sollagen Diabetic skincare brand targeting skin conditions related to diabetes, powered by PTT-6 — a complex mixture of peptides and growth factors derived from cord lining stem cells.
• CorLiCyte Umbilical cord lining stem cell therapy (live mesenchymal stem cell therapy) for treatment of chronic diabetic foot ulcers; FDA IND accepted December 2018 and Phase 1 completed 2022. Also being developed for osteoarthritis, venous leg ulcers, and chronic inflammatory/autoimmune conditions.
• Cord Banking Services Licensed umbilical cord lining tissue banking services offered through partnered cord blood banks across India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, China, Indochina, Taiwan, and USA, enabling parents to bank their baby's cord lining tissue using CellResearch's proprietary technology.
• GlobalCord Registry Registry containing data from all umbilical cord lining tissues privately banked with CellResearch Corporation's partners; guarantees banked tissue samples are harvested and stored using proprietary protocols and remain available for future therapies.
• Contract Research Services In-vitro cell research services including wound healing models, skin biology research, drug discovery, monolayer and 3-D cell cultures, cell co-culture studies, organotypic models, and angiogenesis models for pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic research laboratories.
• CORDVET Stem cell technology product for veterinary and pet care applications; key active ingredient in the Sodago product distributed through selected vets and pet stores.

Quantifiable outcome

• Achieved $25 million revenue by 2025 growing from zero over four years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ClinImmune LabscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2020cGMP production facility for CorLiCyte stem cell product. FDA-licensed laboratory accredited by ASHI, CAP, CLIA, AABB, and FACT. Produced master cell lines achieving 99% purity without manipulation - superior to bone marrow MSCs.
• Menarini GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2019CALECIM partners Menarini Asia-Pacific to expand distribution of stem cell skincare products across Southeast Asian region including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Philippines.
• CordLife GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2016Strategic alliance for cord lining tissue banking services. CordLife offers parents opportunity to bank umbilical cord tissue alongside cord blood using CellResearch's licensed proprietary technology. CordLife has what is believed to be the largest licensed bank of umbilical cord tissue globally. Partnership started with $8.4 million investment in 2016.
• University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Clinical trial partner for CorLiCyte Phase 1 FDA study for chronic diabetic foot ulcers. Collaborates with ClinImmune Labs for cGMP cell production. Principal Investigator Dr Cecilia Low-Wang leads trial at this site (NCT04104451).
• CordLabs Pte Ltd and CordLabs Asia Pte LtdcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2015Subsidiaries that license proprietary cord lining tissue harvesting and storage technology to cord blood bank partners globally. Perform biomarker and viability testing on banked samples.
• StemCytemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCord lining stem cell banking partner operating in Taiwan and USA markets.
• Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STARmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSingapore government joint laboratory partnership. Part of S$16 million government grant. Host projects on Age-related Macular Degeneration, diabetes, hematopoietic stem cell expansion, and pre-clinical investigation using CellResearch's CL-MSCs.
• Sengkang General Hospital / Duke-NUSmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClinical trial partner conducting research on Sollagen for treatment of chronic diabetic foot ulcers. Dr Wong Keng Lin Francis serves as Principal Investigator.
• National University of Singapore (NUS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research collaboration with Wound Healing and Stem Cell Research Group for diabetes, Parkinson's, cardiac, and other therapeutic applications. Professor Phan Toan Thang holds faculty position.
• Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) / Singapore National Eye CentremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research on corneal resurfacing using cord lining stem cells. Associate Professor Leonard Ang leads research on eye-related diseases.
• University Heart Centre Hamburg / Stanford UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration with Professor Sonja Schrepfer and Professor Robert Robbins on cardiac applications of cord lining mesenchymal stem cells.
• Stanford University School of MedicinemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Professor Stefan Heller on differentiation of cord lining stem cells into neuronal hair cells for hearing loss treatment.
• Duke-NUS Graduate School of MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Professor Kam Leong on using cord lining stem cells as feeder layer for ex-vivo expansion of other stem/progenitor cells.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CordLife Group Limited: Singapore-headquartered cord blood and tissue banking operator that is CellResearch's largest licensed partner for cord lining tissue banking. Directly comparable on technology licensing, geographic focus (SE Asia) and customer base (parents/families seeking newborn stem cell banking).
• StemCyte Inc. US/Taiwan-based cord blood bank and CellResearch licensee for cord lining stem cell banking. Directly comparable on the cord tissue banking service, target customer (expectant parents), and reliance on proprietary processing technology licensed from a third-party platform.
• Cryo-Cell International: US-listed cord blood and tissue banking company serving a similar parent/family customer base with comparable newborn stem cell storage services. Relevant comparable on business model and end market, with overlapping geographic coverage.
• Organogenesis Holdings: Commercial-stage regenerative medicine company whose Apligraf is the benchmark FDA-approved multi-cell therapy for chronic wounds (including diabetic foot ulcers). Most directly comparable competitor to CorLiCyte in the same indication, with established US wound care sales infrastructure.
• MiMedx Group: US-listed regenerative medicine company selling placental-tissue-derived products for wound healing and surgical recovery. Closely comparable on biologic wound healing technology, physician-channel GTM and indication overlap (chronic wounds, DFU).
• Vericel Corporation: Commercial-stage cell therapy company selling autologous cell-based products (MACI, Epicel) for orthopedic and wound indications. Comparable on cell therapy business model, FDA-regulated product commercialization, and specialty physician channel.

Broad incumbents

• Mesoblast Limited: Larger, well-capitalized allogeneic MSC therapy developer with programs in inflammatory and chronic conditions. Comparable on MSC-based therapeutic modality and clinical-stage pipeline, though with broader capital base and more advanced programs.
• Athersys Inc. Clinical-stage stem cell therapy company developing MultiStem for inflammatory conditions and wound healing. Comparable on allogeneic cell therapy platform and target indications, and serves as a cautionary comparator given its late-stage trial setbacks.
• Smith & Nephew plc: Global medical device leader with a large Advanced Wound Management franchise. Comparable as the dominant incumbent channel and competitor in diabetic foot ulcer and chronic wound treatment where CorLiCyte would compete on commercialization.
• Galderma (Alastin Skincare): Global dermatology company whose Alastin Skincare brand sells physician-dispensed regenerative skincare products backed by proprietary peptide/growth factor science. Closest large-scale comparable to CALECIM Professional on premium aesthetic-physician channel and stem-cell/biologic cosmeceutical positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cellresearch-corporation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CellResearch Corporation