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Potentially deadly stem cell treatments spur calls for regulation

So-called stem cell tourism involves patients traveling overseas to participate in heavily-marketed but largely unproven and dangerous unregulated stem cell treatments.

By Amy Wallace
Global experts are calling for regulation of unproven stem cell tourism treatments after several people have died traveling overseas for treatment. Photo courtesy of The University of Melbourne
Global experts are calling for regulation of unproven stem cell tourism treatments after several people have died traveling overseas for treatment. Photo courtesy of The University of Melbourne

July 6 (UPI) -- A group of international experts is calling for an urgent worldwide effort to regulate potentially deadly stem cell tourism treatments.

Fifteen experts from Australia, the United States, Britain, Canada, Italy, Japan and Belgium say in a report published Wednesday that stem cell tourism is dangerous and putting lives at risk.

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"These clinics market science but are effectively selling hope," Megan Munsie, an associate professor at the University of Melbourne and stem cell scientist, said in a press release. "We need immediate action in Australia and a coordinated international regulatory effort to curb this exploitative but growing industry."

Experts say stem cell treatments must be fully evaluated and regulated before they are marketed and used on people. However, most countries do not have any regulations regarding stem cell treatments.

According to the report, which was published July 5 in Science Translational Medicine, several people, including a woman in Australia, have died from stem cell tourism treatments.

Several countries including Italy and Germany, have taken action against stem cell treatment providers, but those examples are few and far between.

"Evidence standards in the context of commercial advertising, market authorization, and standard of care often vary considerably, as do the enforcement options available to national regulators," the paper stated. "Effective measures for regulating this sector both nationally and internationally are urgently needed."

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