When it comes to research and development of efficient and affordable cell therapy in India, StemGenn Therapeutics is one of the most trusted names. Founded in the year 2014, StemGenn Therapeutics is a leading cell therapy & regenerative medicine services company which is driving the development and commercialization of cellular therapies and stem cell research.
The company was co-founded by Dr. Prabhu Mishra and Ms. Richa Jha. In a very short span of time, StemGenn has become a torchbearer in the field of regenerative medicine and cellular therapy. So, let’s find out more about this startup, its founders, and how within a very short span of time it has become a leading player in the emerging field of cell therapy.
More about StemGenn
Being a promising, new enterprise, StemGenn focuses on development and commercialization of cell-based therapeutics. It is a leading player in this emerging field, which has developed a niche for itself in the development of cellular therapies and stem cell research by using Avante-Garde technology and science.
The company specializes in cell therapy for orthopedic and neurological problems such as Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neuronal Disease (ALS), Spinal Cord Injuries, Strokes, Auto-immune Diseases, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and Diabetes, along with Anti-aging treatments. Its services include end-to-end solutions for a better and healthy world.
The company is currently working in areas like development of proprietary cell therapy products as well as revenue-generating physician and patient-based regenerative medicine/cell therapy training services, cell collection and cell storage facilities, and the operation of cell therapy clinics.
The Founders of StemGenn
As mentioned already, StemGenn is co-founded by Dr. Prabhu Mishra and Ms. Richa Jha. Prabhu Mishra, who is presently the CEO of the company is a scientific entrepreneur awarded with a doctoral degree. He has been trained in biotechnology, stem cells, and regenerative medicine.
Dr. Prabhu Mishra
Image Credit: YouTube
He is also a motivational speaker. To put it in his own words, “As a strong proponent of progress and education for the advancement of stem cell therapy, I serve as a motivational speaker to the public at large for life sciences. I have been actively involved in international conferences outreach and I am the Founder President of Anti-Ageing Foundation, Vice President of Indian Stem Cell Study Group, and Ex-Secretary General of Stem Cell Society of India.”
Dr. Mishra is also involved in many active research projects in stem cell biology and development of novel products and protocols. On the other hand, Ms. Richa Jha has gained expertise in marketing and business development projects in stem cell biology.
Ms. Richa Jha
Image Credit: Linkedin
So, What Inspired the Founders to Come up with StemGenn?
When asked what inspired Dr. Prabhu Mishra to venture into this domain, he said, “Being a biotechnologist, I always wanted to do something innovative in the field of healthcare and medicine, especially for the degenerative conditions due to which people are dying every minute, like diabetes. There is no cure for it except medications. But, with stem cell therapy, we can prevent the microvascular complications of diabetes by managing it.”
According to him, the current medical practices are yet to develop a cure for diseases like multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, retinitis pigmentosa, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and many other degenerative autoimmune conditions. Therefore, the stem cell therapy is a ray of hope for people suffering from these life-threatening conditions, and hence, the inception of StemGenn Therapeutics.
The Overall Industrial Scenario
With the growing awareness of chronic diseases and the rising disposable income of people, we are witnessing a boom in the global healthcare industry. This massive growth of the healthcare industry is also accelerating the growth of the stem cell and regenerative medicine market across the globe. An increasing research expenditure on stem cells indicates promising growth of stem cell & regenerative medicines in the upcoming years.
The Stem Cell market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 9.73% between 2018 and 2026. Stem cells have a huge potential in regenerative medicine. Moreover, they are also the key to anti-aging and prolonging life. These two factors are fueling the growth of the global stem cell market, according to Dr. Prabhu Mishra.
He also opined that the market is majorly driven by technological advancements in diagnostic devices. A number of factors such as increasing disease incidence rates across the globe for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (strokes, hypertension, etc.,), cancers that are difficult to treat and/or recover from post-treatment, neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s Disease etc.,), along with a rising geriatric population have resulted in an increasing demand for more efficient therapeutic strategies. And stem cell therapy for regenerative medicine is one such strategy.
Challenges and the Takeaways from Them
Like any other entrepreneurial journey, the journey of StemGenn is also not free of roadblocks. As a startup, one of the major challenges faced by StemGenn was to create an awareness about the benefits of stem-based therapies among both medical fraternity and the public. Of course, the lack of enough investment was another impediment.
In Dr. Prabhu Mishra’s words, “Trusts and charitable organizations are the major investors in the healthcare sector who have a no-profit-no-loss mindset, which refrains them from investing in research and technology.”
He further adds, “Bringing the stem cell and regenerative medicine novel technologies from bench side to bedside requires pilot studies and trials where regulatory challenges were a major hurdle too.”
But, life, as well as the business, is all about overcoming such hurdles and then march ahead in search of excellence. And StemGenn also did that and refused to surrender before difficulties. They slowly and gradually overcame all the challenges by reaching out to medical fraternity and the public by introducing Anti-Ageing Foundation (Society of Regenerative Aesthetic and Functional Medicine).
Under this foundation, they started a series of stem cell and regenerative medicine conferences and also dedicated stem cell and regenerative medicine indexed journals and magazines.
“We have also started dedicated stem cell and regenerative medicine training institutes for reaching out to the medical fraternity and target audiences, as we think that education is the best way to reach them. This has driven us and has given us wings to maximize our horizons to reach doctors globally. We have also collaborated with various research institutes and universities to keep our technologies updated”, said Prabhu Mishra.
While counting the takeaways from these challenges, Dr. Mishra quips, “Celebrate your failures along with your successes. By failing, you get two steps closer to being right. A lot of matters rest on the founders’ shoulders and they all need to be quick and accurate with their decisions. So, try to be a better judge and be open. Experiment and explore possibilities at work and in life.”
The Journey So Far
Recollecting the early days of StemGenn, Dr. Mishra revealed, “I started StemGenn with a very small setup in East Delhi. Further, we collaborated with Dr. Sharda Jain, India’s leading Gynecologist, which was a big milestone in our journey as it introduced us to the Gynaecologists community of India.”
In the subsequent period, they opened several centers of StemGenn Therapeutics in various parts of India in collaboration with IVF Specialists. And in a short span of 2 years, the company established its market presence with six centers all over India.
They also received invitations to present researches and studies globally in places like Fakih IVF Abu Dhabi, Bioconclave London, Cardimersion Dubai, World Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Conference Manchester, Loma Linda University USA, and in several other countries.
The current team of StemGenn comprises 20 experts in which the majority are doctors and Ph.D. scientists. The team is being guided by a medical and scientific board comprising world’s leading scientists and medical practitioners. As of now, they have a strong customer base and hold a good market presence globally. So far, they have generated approximately 6 crores in revenue.
The Strengths
According to Dr. Mishra, their in-house technologies, and products like o-cell, reprokraft, and Lipokraft are the core strengths of StemGenn. They also run a Journal to keep everyone updated with the latest advances in the field of stem cell and regenerative medicine.
The Funding Scenario
While elaborating the funding scenario of StemGenn, Dr. Mishra let us know that they have used their hard-earned savings to meet their funding requirements. They are working on the formula of money begets money, and so, invested their earned money in expanding the business. He thinks that Investment is obviously a key part of the journey of any business and therefore, StemGenn is looking for funds for business expansion.
The Future Plans
StemGenn Therapeutics has already established medical tourism relationships through International Business marketing. They have a good footfall of international patients approaching for treatments. Also, a lot of specialized foreign doctors and medical experts come to receive stem cell and regenerative medicine training at StemGenn’s CosmoStem Institute of Regenerative Aesthetic Medicine.
When asked about their addressable market, Dr. Prabhu Mishra lets us know that diabetes, liver diseases, infertility, orthopedic conditions, and lifestyle and autoimmune conditions will be the addressable market for StemGenn.
Out of these, one of the key segments is the genomics-based diagnosis, which is the best scientifically guided preventive medicine. And according to Dr. Mishra, it is helping them to predict the fast aging, metabolic disorders and other degenerative conditions.
On the basis of this, StemGenn has designed the ‘Total Body Rejuvenation’ program, which includes skin aging, appearance, and inner wellness. Inner wellness is the key to slowing down the entire aging process. They have also included bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, Nutrigenomics, and personalized Anti-Aging programs in it.
So, this is the story of StemGenn, a startup which has been able to achieve excellence in its field due to the hard work, diligence, and positive outlooks of its members. We wish them good luck and hope that in the future, they will be able to scale newer heights of success and glory while providing quality services to people.
Source: Techstory
