Prolacta Bioscience is a for-profit company apparently started by Elena Medo
(formerly CEO of White River breast pumps) to collect and process human milk
to make both pasteurized whole milk and specialized milk components (eg. high
protein "premie" milk) available to NICUs and others. It's model is similar to
blood banking where volunteer donors give blood, but excess blood is
converted to blood products and sold to hospitals and others.
Venture capital was sought and found to set up a processing plant in Monrovia
CA (east of Los Angeles, CA) and various lactation VIPs are or were signed on
as expert consultants (eg. Lars Hanson, Ruth Lawrence). They are looking to
make quality products, but the way it is coming about is concerning.
It appears money was given to 1 or 2 entities: "The American Breastfeeding
Institute (ABI)" and "The National Commission on Donor Milk Banking" (Karin
Cadwell and Lois Arnold appear to be the principals - although no-one will confirm
or deny the relationship and structure of these entities) to set up a network
of "milk banks" (actually milk collection depots) to ensure a steady flow of
donor milk to the CA plant. I have heard disturbing reports of denigration of
the current not-for-profit milk banking system (milk not safe, no quality
control, no regulation) by representatives of the ABI.
As a neonatologist I would love to have fortifiers made from human milk
rather than the cow's milk fortifiers we are currently using. In addition, having
a for-profit company involved in it would place a dollar value on human milk,
which is not valued now as it is "free". However, I would prefer to see the
development and research done under the current non-profit HMBANA network if
possible, to ensure that ALL patients, regardless of ability to pay, would be
able to access the milk and milk products.
Although the greatest NUMBER of pasteurized donor human milk receipients are
premature infants, the greatest VOLUME of milk goes to older infants, children
and adults as outpatients. I am not sure if Prolacta is going to address
these patients' needs. In addition, I am concerned that if enough volunteer
donor milk cannot be found, payment may be made for the milk, directly or
indirectly, which could lead to abuses.
I have no financial interest in Prolacta, nor am I on their consultant panel.
Please note that a representative from Prolacta monitors LACTNET.
Nancy
Nancy E. Wight MD, IBCLC, FABM, FAAP
Neonatologist, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Children's Hospital
Medical Director, Sharp HealthCare Lactation Services
San Diego, CA
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