Patients from the U.S. have to go to other countries for autologous stem cell treatments (using the patient’s own cells) because of FDA regulations.
No, it’s not because of any restrictions by President Bush, (which limited funding for embryonic stem cells, not adult stem cells).
The FDA considers the use of the patients’ own cells as a new drug, because they go through processing for the purpose of increasing their numbers. Use of such cells would require a new drug application to the FDA, therefore the procedures have to be done in other countries.
A court has recently ruled, against the interest of Regenerative Sciences, a clinic that treats orthopedic patients, that the FDA retains the authority to regulate stem cell treatments.
Yes, it is the FDA, not President Bush, which is causing the outsourcing of autologous stem cell treatments.
Read more by Rebecca Taylor @ Lifenews:
Why Don’t Patients Stay in the U.S. for Stem Cell Treatments? | LifeNews.com.
