Jun
9
Last month, Costa Rica’s health ministry halted treatments at the country’s largest stem cell clinic, arguing that the treatments are unproven and possibly unsafe.
Though the Obama administration has expanded federal funding of stem cell research and there are ongoing clinical trials, there are currently no FDA-approved stem cell treatments. So some Americans, suffering from conditions ranging from cancer to spinal injuries, have looked elsewhere for experimental stem cell-based remedies, and clinics in countries such as Costa Rica, China, India, and Mexico have grown into stem cell tourist destinations.
Costa Rica’s largest clinic, the Institute of Cellular Medicine in San Jose, was operated by American entrepreneur Neil Riordan; it attracted about 400 patients for these treatments. The clinic used adult stem cells, which Costa Rica’s government had allowed the clinic to take from patients’ fat and bone marrow. The government had not authorized the clinic to use these cells for treatment.
“If stem cell treatment’s efficiency and safety has not been proven, we don’t believe it should be used,” said Dr. Ileana Herrera, chief of the ministry’s research council. “As a health ministry, we must always protect the human being.” [Reuters]
Researchers argue that such clinics neither provide reliable treatment nor advance research since they use anecdotal evidence for a treatment’s efficacy and don’t safeguard against other variables in their testing. Given the dire conditions of many patients seeking these clinics, many worry that desperate patients make easy targets.
Read the rest via Stem Cell Tourists Denied: Costa Rica Stops Treatments at Top Clinic | 80beats | Discover Magazine.
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3 Responses to “Stem Cell Tourists Denied: Costa Rica Stops Treatments at Top Clinic”
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Those researchers are working on the same treatments that are provided already in the overseas clinics. Of course they are going to say their competition is not valid.
As a multiple sclerosis patient who has been following this story for years, I can say that it is truly disappointing to see how biased this story is. The Institute for Cellular Medicine (Cellmedicine), together with their American counterparts Medistem Inc have discovered a new treatment for multiple sclerosis that has literally taken people out of wheelchairs.
The use of fat stem cells for treatment of multiple sclerosis is now being used internationally as a result of the work of Medistem and its publications, unfortunately none of this is being reported here.
For more information go to pubmed dot com and search Ichim T, the CEO of Medistem, he has published 62 papers.
Patricia Ramos
Apparently the clinic is still operating in Panama, and is part of a growing industry that claims stem-cell-based treatments including autism, diabetes, ALS and cancer. I personally support the closure on both the basis of protection of the patient and Costa Rica’s growing reputation for stewardship of not only the environment, but its intellectual capital.
- Tee
Tee is the founder and senior editor of Costa Rica CLOSEUP a Travel Guide to Costa Rica with Events, Articles and Information for everyone traveling, retiring and/or purchasing real estate in Costa Rica. Please visit http://www.costaricacloseup.com for more information.