What Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto does

Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto (legal name Fundação Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto, or FUNDHERP) is a Brazilian public foundation founded in 1990 and affiliated with the University of São Paulo (USP) and Hospital das Clínicas da FMRP-USP. It operates as the largest public blood service network in São Paulo state, running nine collection/processing units (Ribeirão Preto, Franca, Araçatuba, Fernandópolis, Presidente Prudente, Taubaté, Bebedouro, Olímpia, and a Nutera RP unit in São Paulo city) that together distribute blood components to approximately 130 public hospitals serving 249 municipalities and roughly 7 million people. In 2025 the network performed 119,442 transfusions (a 3.5% year-on-year increase, the highest in five years) and distributed 242,132 hemocomponent units, while registering 114,453 donor candidates.

The institution has evolved from a regional blood bank into a translational cell-therapy hub through its Núcleo de Terapia Avançada (Nutera RP), a BPF-compliant cell factory built jointly with Instituto Butantan and USP that manufactures 100% nationally developed CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies. The CARTHEDRALL Phase 1/2 trial targets 81 patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma across five partner centers, with reported efficacy exceeding 87%; ANVISA approved Phase 2 in 2026 and SUS incorporation is being evaluated. Supporting research infrastructure includes CTC-USP (a FAPESP CEPID), the INCT-TOP precision oncology institute, a PRONON-funded biobank, single-cell flow cytometry, and viral metagenomics laboratories that contributed over 3.4 million SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests and 6,000+ genomic sequences during the pandemic.

Hemocentro RP is funded almost entirely through public sources: recurring SUS operating allocations, FAPESP and CNPq research grants, and a R$100 million Ministry of Health PROCIS investment in the CARTHEDRALL program. All clinical services — blood collection, transfusion, hemophilia/sickle cell care, and CAR-T under trial — are provided free of charge through SUS. Go-to-market is non-commercial: a direct-distribution model to public hospitals paired with donor-engagement channels including the Meu Hemocentro RP mobile app, the Leve e Trás mobile collection bus, the SouConsciente corporate partnership program, and a Casa da Ciência education program that has reached 800+ students across 86 cities. A June 2025 cooperation agreement has extended the research mandate into autoimmune diseases (lupus, myasthenia gravis), and an April 2025 IASO Bio agreement (via Butantan) opens a cross-border development vector.

Name

Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto

Legal name

Fundação Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto (FUNDHERP)

Website

https://hemocentro.fmrp.usp.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto is a public Brazilian foundation operating the largest SUS blood service network in São Paulo state, serving ~130 hospitals across 249 municipalities. It also pioneers nationally manufactured CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies through its Nutera RP facility and CTC-USP research center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Blood Banking and Cell Therapy Services

NAICS

Blood and Organ Banks (621991), Medical Laboratories (621511)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro primary industry

Transfusion Medicine & Immunohematology (Blood Bank) (HLAFAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Blood Bank, Transfusion Medicine & Immunohematology (HLAHAAAH), Bone Marrow & Stem Cell Transplant (BMT/HSCT) (HLAKAFAI), Stem Cell Therapies (MSC/iPSC/HSC-derived) (HLAAABAE), Cell & Tissue Banking (biobanking, cord blood/tissue) (HLAAAGAE)

Keywords

• Blood banking services
• Cellular therapy manufacturing
• Hematology research
• Transfusion medicine services
• Public healthcare operations

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. SUS (Sistema Único de Saúde) Public Healthcare Funding: Hemocentro RP operates as a public foundation funded primarily by the Brazilian public health system (SUS). Services including blood collection, testing, processing, and transfusion are provided free of charge to patients. The institution receives government budgetary allocations which have historically been insufficient, leading to operational crises and calls for budget adjustments from parliamentarians.
2. Research Grants and Fomentation: Funding from FAPESP (São Paulo State Research Foundation), CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development), and Ministry of Health programs including PROCIS (Programa para o Desenvolvimento do Complexo Industrial da Saúde). Grants support CAR-T clinical trials, biobank operations, and biotechnology research.
3. CAR-T Clinical Trial Sponsored by Ministry of Health: The CARTHEDRALL clinical study is financed by the Ministry of Health through PROCIS, which funds the development of health industrial complex technologies including advanced cell therapies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto collects, processes, tests, and distributes blood and blood components (red cells, platelets, plasma, cryoprecipitate) to approximately 130 public hospitals across one-third of São Paulo state through a 9-unit network. Beyond traditional blood banking, the institution manufactures CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies at the Nutera RP 'cell factory' and runs the CARTHEDRALL Phase 1/2 clinical trial (81-patient target) for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, alongside outpatient hematology services for hemophilia, sickle cell disease, and therapeutic phlebotomy.

Product overview

Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto operates as a comprehensive blood center network and advanced cell therapy research institution. The core offerings include blood collection, processing, and transfusion services spanning one-third of São Paulo state, paired with cutting-edge cell therapy manufacturing through Nutera RP. The Nutera RP facility produces CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies for cancer treatment as part of the CARTHEDRALL clinical study. Supporting infrastructure includes CTC-USP research center and INCT-TOP institute for oncology precision medicine research. A mobile application (Meu Hemocentro RP) serves blood donors for appointment scheduling and tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Meu Hemocentro RP: Mobile application for blood donors to schedule appointments, receive reminders, access campaign information, and track donation history.

Products and services

• Nutera RP (Núcleo de Terapia Avançada) Advanced cell therapy manufacturing center ('cell factory') that produces CAR-T and CAR-NK cells for the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, and autoimmune diseases, operating in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (BPF) and capable of treating up to 300 patients per year when fully operational.
• CAR-T Cell Therapy Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy that genetically modifies patient lymphocytes in the laboratory to express a receptor that identifies and attacks tumor cells; targets B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and demonstrated more than 87% efficacy in severe cases under the CARTHEDRALL clinical trial.
• CAR-NK Cell Therapy Natural Killer cell therapy with genetic modification to express chimeric antigen receptors targeting tumor cells; offers potential advantages in safety, efficacy, and accessibility over CAR-T, particularly for patients who cannot wait for CAR-T manufacturing or lack healthy T cells. The technology has been patented by Hemocentro RP.
• Meu Hemocentro RP Mobile Application Mobile application for blood donors enabling appointment scheduling, reminders, campaign information, donation challenges, and tracking of when donated blood components are used, with donation history records spanning the past 10 years.
• CARTHEDRALL Clinical Study Phase 1/2 multicenter clinical trial of anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy for B-cell acute lymphoid leukemia or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, plans to treat 81 patients using 100% nationally developed CAR-T technology across five reference centers in São Paulo state.
• Blood Collection and Transfusion Services Blood donation collection, laboratory testing, processing into blood components (red cells, platelets, plasma, cryoprecipitate), and distribution to public hospitals across São Paulo state; the network covers one-third of the state serving approximately 130 public hospitals and performed 119,442 transfusions in 2025 (highest in five years).
• CTC-USP (Centro de Terapia Celular) Research Center Cell Therapy Center, one of FAPESP's Research, Innovation and Diffusion Centers (CEPIDs), conducting research in stem cell therapy, cellular therapy for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and genetic disorders; inaugurated in April 2025 as part of USP's special research centers (Cepix).

Quantifiable outcome

• CAR-T therapy demonstrated 87%+ efficacy against severe leukemia and lymphoma in clinical trials, compared to conventional therapies
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Instituto ButantancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2022Partnership with Instituto Butantan for the development and manufacturing of CAR-T cell therapy against leukemia and lymphoma. This collaboration has produced 100% nationally manufactured CAR-T cells, culminating in the CARTHEDRALL clinical trial and the establishment of Nutera RP 'cell factories' in São Paulo and Ribeirão Preto.
• CTC-USP (Centro de Terapia Celular)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTC-USP is a FAPESP-funded Center for Research, Innovation and Diffusion hosted at Hemocentro RP. It integrates multidisciplinary research in cell therapy, cancer, genetics, bioinformatics, and immunology, serving as the primary research engine for the institution.
• CRO SynviaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSynvia is the Contract Research Organization responsible for managing the CARTHEDRALL clinical study, including documentation with regulatory bodies and operational risk mitigation.
• Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of five partner clinical centers participating in the CARTHEDRALL CAR-T cell therapy clinical trial, treating patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Hospital de Clínicas da UnicampcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of five partner clinical centers participating in the CARTHEDRALL CAR-T cell therapy clinical trial.
• Beneficência Portuguesa (São Paulo)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of five partner clinical centers participating in the CARTHEDRALL CAR-T cell therapy clinical trial.
• Hospital Sírio-LibanêscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of five partner clinical centers participating in the CARTHEDRALL CAR-T cell therapy clinical trial.
• Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto (HCFMRP-USP)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOne of five partner clinical centers participating in the CARTHEDRALL CAR-T cell therapy clinical trial, and the primary host institution adjacent to Hemocentro RP headquarters.
• IASO BiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese biopharmaceutical company IASO Bio signed a cooperation agreement with Instituto Butantan in April 2025 for the development of a new advanced therapy against hematological cancers. Hemocentro RP is involved through its partnership with Instituto Butantan.
• INCT-TOP (Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Terapia Oncológica de Precisão)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINCT-TOP is an interdisciplinary research network led by Hemocentro RP focusing on discovery of new therapeutic targets, development of personalized therapies, and implementation of precision medicine strategies.
• Agência USP de Inovação / Inova USP Ribeirão PretominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSP innovation agencies supporting technology transfer and commercialization efforts from research developed at Hemocentro RP.
• Embrapii (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa e Inovação Industrial) - FMRP-USP unitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmbrapii unit at FMRP-USP supports industrial innovation projects related to research developed at Hemocentro RP, including cell therapy manufacturing.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Cassiano Rodrigues Moro / Hospital de Clínicas UFPR: Brazilian academic hematology / bone marrow transplant programs at other federal/state university hospitals that perform CAR-T-affiliated hematology care in other regions. Comparable as SUS-funded hematology specialty centers but in different geographies than Hemocentro RP.

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross Biomedical Services: One of the largest nonprofit blood-collection and distribution organizations globally. Comparable at the blood banking/transfusion services business-model level, although US-based and at much larger scale than Hemocentro RP's regional footprint.
• Gilead (Kite Pharma / Yescarta): Through Kite Pharma, Gilead is a commercial leader in CAR-T cell therapy (Yescarta, Tecartus). Broader-incumbent comparable to Hemocentro RP's CAR-T program at the category level.
• Novartis (Kymriah): Global pioneer and commercial leader in autologous CAR-T cell therapy (Kymriah). Comparable to Hemocentro RP's CAR-T capability at the technology category level, although Hemocentro RP operates as a public nonprofit while Novartis commercializes globally at ~US$2.5M per patient.

Emerging players

• Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein: Brazilian hospital network with active CAR-T cell therapy program and hematology clinical research. Overlaps with Hemocentro RP in advanced hematology treatment offerings though operating in the private healthcare system rather than SUS.

Others

• FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo): Primary research-funding body for Hemocentro RP, supporting CTC-USP CEPID, Nutera RP and biobank operations. Not a peer but a core enabler/advisor to the institute and comparable in supporting cell-therapy / biotechnology R&D in São Paulo.

Direct peers

• Fundação Hemominas (Hemocentro de Minas Gerais): Public-state hematology foundation running multi-unit blood bank operations in Minas Gerais. Direct counterpart to Hemocentro RP in another Brazilian state with similar hemotherapy + hematology care mandate.
• Fundação Pró-Sangue / Hemocentro de São Paulo: Major public blood bank in São Paulo city operated in partnership with Hospital das Clínicas FMUSP; one of CARTHEDRALL's five clinical partner centers. Comparable as a SUS-funded blood collection and transfusion network serving the same state.
• Instituto Butantan: São Paulo state public biomedical institute and co-developer of Hemocentro RP's nationally produced CAR-T cell therapy via the Nutera RP partnership. Strategic partner and the manufacturing/distribution counterpart for the cell therapy pipeline.
• Hemorio (Instituto de Hematologia do Rio de Janeiro): State-level public hematology and blood therapy center in Rio de Janeiro; operates collection, processing, distribution and outpatient hematology care under SUS. Direct functional analog to Hemocentro RP in another Brazilian state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hemocentroribeirao
• Xx.com/hemocentrorp
• Facebookfacebook.com/hemocentrorp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto