FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
8/11/08
PerkinElmer’s ViaCord Teams up with Mia Hamm to Promote Cord Blood Education and Assist Transplant Families
Embarks on Joint Public Awareness Campaign, Provides Financial Support to Mia Hamm Foundation
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
ViaCord, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
PerkinElmer, Inc. (NYSE: PKI), today announced a new partnership with global sports superstar Mia Hamm and the Mia Hamm Foundation to jointly raise awareness of the value and benefits of
umbilical cord blood banking, and support the Foundation’s mission of supporting cord blood or bone marrow transplant patients and their families.
Through this agreement, the Company will provide funding to the
Mia Hamm Foundation, and both parties will work together on a broader national campaign focused on education and awareness of critical issues surrounding the benefits of
cord blood banking and transplants.
When her twins were born in 2007, Hamm and her husband made the decision to save their cord blood with
ViaCord. Cord blood is a valuable, non-controversial source of
stem cells with proven effect in
treating more than 70 serious diseases, including many cancers and immunodeficiencies. To date, more than
10,000 cord blood transplants have been performed worldwide. Recently, the use of autologous (one’s own) cord blood has emerged as a potential treatment option for
diabetes and cerebral palsy. In the future, medical use of cord blood stem cells may be expanded to include the treatment of cardiac disease or stroke.
“Mia Hamm is one of the world’s premier athletes, who exhibits class and grace both on and off the field. She shares our excitement about the benefits and potential of cord blood stem cells, and we are truly excited about the opportunity to work together,” said Jim Corbett, president, ViaCord. “Our scientific know-how and
cord blood banking expertise coupled with Mia’s passion for this subject provides a winning combination in driving greater awareness of the benefits and possibilities of using cord blood stem cells.”
“I lost my brother Garrett to Aplastic Anemia, one of the diseases cord blood can treat, so my family knows first hand the value of having access to a matching cord blood unit,” said Hamm. “I am thrilled to team with ViaCord to help educate expecting families on the value of cord blood banking, while also increasing my Foundation’s ability to assist more families in need of a cord blood or bone marrow transplant.”
PerkinElmer is the established global leader in neonatal screening and is committed to growing its offerings in prenatal screening and maternal health worldwide. The Company provides customers with the most comprehensive array of newborn screening solutions available, including the world’s first and only tandem mass spectrometry kit cleared by the FDA, and PerkinElmer Genetics, a full-service newborn screening laboratory. PerkinElmer provides families the option of preserving their baby’s umbilical cord blood at the time of birth for possible future medical use in treating more than 70 diseases, many cancers and immunodeficiencies through its ViaCord business. PerkinElmer also provides first-trimester prenatal risk assessment testing under the brand name Ultra-Screen, through its NTD Laboratories subsidiary.
PerkinElmer, Inc. is a global technology leader driving growth and innovation in Health Sciences and Photonics markets to improve the quality of life. The Company reported revenues of $1.8 billion in 2007, has 9,100 employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, and is a component of the S&P 500 Index. Additional information is available through www.perkinelmer.com or 1-877-PKI-NYSE.
About the Mia Hamm Foundation
The Mia Hamm Foundation is a non-profit, national organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for families in need of a bone marrow or cord blood transplant patients and the development of more opportunities for young women to participate in sport. For more information, please visit
http://www.miafoundation.org.
Contacts
PerkinElmer, Inc.
Investor Relations:
Michael A. Lawless, 781-663-5659
or
Media Contact:
Stephanie R. Wasco, 781-663-5701