China's patients with chronic heart failure - a serious and common condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood - will soon have access to the stem-cell-based therapy C-Cure.

Eight to 10 trial sites are expected to be set up at renowned public medical institutions in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, in addition to others around the world, to test the safety and effectiveness of the therapy.

"Participating in the trial will enhance the stem-cell research capacity of China, which remains uncompetitive worldwide," said Zhou Yujie, vice-president of Beijing Anzhen hospital.