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Turner L, Wang JC, Martinez JR, Najjar S, Rajapaksha Arachchilage T, Sahrai V. US businesses engaged in direct-to-consumer marketing of perinatal stem cell interventions following the Food and Drug Administration's enforcement discretion era. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:393-403. [PMID: 38340106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS The goal of this study was to analyze online marketing representations made by 300 US businesses selling allogeneic perinatal stem cell products. The study was conducted after a period of enforcement discretion by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). METHODS Data mining and content analysis were used to identify, analyze and categorize marketing claims made on the websites of 300 businesses selling perinatal stem cell interventions. RESULTS The study identified types of perinatal interventions companies advertised, geographic locations of clinics selling such products, types of companies operating in this space, diseases and injuries such businesses claim to treat, prices companies charge for such interventions, brand names of advertised perinatal cell products and identities of suppliers. CONCLUSIONS A substantial number of US businesses market unapproved perinatal stem cell products for various indications. This widespread commercial activity occurred following the conclusion of a period of enforcement discretion by the FDA and suggests the need for more robust and comprehensive regulatory responses to businesses selling unapproved perinatal stem cell products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Turner
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Health, Society and Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA; Department of Family Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.
| | - Jia Chieng Wang
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Juan Ramon Martinez
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | - Shemms Najjar
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
| | | | - Victoria Sahrai
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA
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Matthews KRW, Lowe SJ, Master Z. US state laws on medical freedom and investigational stem cell procedures: a call to focus on state-based legislation. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:404-409. [PMID: 38310500 PMCID: PMC11010147 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
The premature marketing of investigational stem cell interventions (SCIs) is a growing market in the US. Several US states have passed legislation to permit and promote unproven and experimental SCIs for individuals with terminal or chronic diseases. These SCI medical freedom laws, which are largely based on right-to-try legislation, increase access to experimental SCIs with little to no oversight. They undermine federal regulatory authority and can compromise patient safety and informed decision-making. SCI medical freedom laws have gone largely unnoticed by scientific societies interested in the responsible translation of stem cell medicine. In this article, we analyze state SCI medical freedom laws and describe their detrimental impact on patients and society. We contend that scientific and medical societies are uniquely poised to advocate against state-based policy promoting unproven SCIs but recognize resource and other constraints to advocate for or against legislation in 50 states. We recommend societies establish coalitions and share resources to address state-based SCI medical freedom laws and other legislation surrounding unproven SCIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstin R W Matthews
- Baker Institute Center for Health and Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA.
| | - Samantha J Lowe
- Baker Institute Center for Health and Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Zubin Master
- Baker Institute Center for Health and Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
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3
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Hoeyer K, Couturier A, Barawi K, Drew C, Grundtvig A, Lane E, Munk AK, Whiteley LE, Munsie M. Searching for information about stem cells online in an age of artificial intelligence: How should the stem cell community respond? Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:159-162. [PMID: 38278153 PMCID: PMC10874854 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Patients and their families routinely use the Internet to learn about stem cell research. What they find, is increasingly influenced by ongoing changes in how information is filtered and presented online. This article reflects on recent developments in generative artificial intelligence and how the stem cell community should respond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Hoeyer
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Kali Barawi
- Centre for Trials Research, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Cheney Drew
- Centre for Trials Research, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Anders Grundtvig
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emma Lane
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Anders Kristian Munk
- TANTlab, Department of Culture and Learning, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | - Megan Munsie
- Stem Cell Biology Theme, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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4
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Geiselman LA, Wetherill L, Graham BH, Payne K, Hopewell EL. Survey of genetic counselors identifies a knowledge gap discerning properly regulated cell and gene therapy trials. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:88-95. [PMID: 37747395 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS As cell and gene therapy (CGT) has grown in availability and scope, more unapproved regenerative medicine is being marketed to the public. It is essential that health care providers have sufficient knowledge and comfort to determine whether treatments are properly regulated and address these topics with patients. Due to the applicability of CGT to genetic disease, genetic counselors could be key in providing education and answering patients' questions about these topics. However, previous studies have focused only on physicians' knowledge and comfort with CGT and unapproved regenerative medicine. The purpose of this study was to assess genetic counselors' self-reported knowledge and comfort discussing these topics with patients and to explore what factors predict increased knowledge and comfort. METHODS The authors designed an online survey distributed to genetic counselors who were part of the National Society of Genetic Counselors Student Research Program e-mail list. The survey addressed genetic counselors' demographics, practice experience with CGT, education about CGT, knowledge and comfort. RESULTS The survey was completed by 144 genetic counselors. The best predictor of increased knowledge and comfort was experience discussing CGT in practice. In addition, those who worked at an institution at which CGT trials were offered had greater knowledge and comfort. However, most genetic counselors reported their knowledge was not sufficient to address questions from patients, and most had little-to-no knowledge or comfort determining whether a trial was properly regulated. There was no correlation between education and either knowledge or comfort; however, most participants desired more education about these topics. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that genetic counselors who (i) have experience with CGT in practice or (ii) work at institutions at which CGT trials are offered may have better knowledge regarding CGT. These results may help identify individuals and/or institutions in whom increasing knowledge regarding CGT could be beneficial. This is crucial as CGT becomes mainstream, leading to more widely marketed unapproved regenerative medicine. Several gaps in knowledge and comfort were identified, including participants' ability to determine whether a treatment is properly regulated. Further research is needed to better characterize the educational needs of genetic counselors surrounding these topics to address these gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lily A Geiselman
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Leah Wetherill
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Brett H Graham
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Katelyn Payne
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Emily L Hopewell
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
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Hernández-Melchor D, López-Bayghen E, Padilla-Viveros A. The patent landscape in the field of stem cell therapy: closing the gap between research and clinic. F1000Res 2023; 11:997. [PMID: 38481536 PMCID: PMC10933573 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.123799.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Stem cell technology is a powerful tool ready to respond to the needs of modern medicine that is experiencing rapid technological development. Given its potential in therapeutic applications, intellectual property rights (IPR) as a protection resource of knowledge are a relevant topic. Patent eligibility of stem cells has been controversial as restrictions to access the fundamental technologies open a gap between research and clinic. Therefore, we depicted the current patent landscape in the field to discuss if this approach moves forward in closing this breach by examining patent activity over the last decade from a transdisciplinary perspective. Stem cell therapeutic applications is an area of continuous growth where patent filing through the PCT is the preferred strategy. Patenting activity is concentrated in the USA, European Union, and Australia; this accumulation in a few key players leads to governance, regulation, and inequality concerns. To boost wealthiness and welfare in society - stem cell therapies' ultimate goal - while at post-pandemic recovery, critical elements in the field of IPR rise to overcome current limitations: to promote bridge builders able to connect the research and business worlds, regulatory updates, novel financing models, new vehicles (startups, spinouts, and spin-offs), and alternative figures of intellectual property.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinorah Hernández-Melchor
- Science, Technology and Society Program, . Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City, 07360, Mexico
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City, 07360, Mexico
| | - Esther López-Bayghen
- Departamento de Toxicología, Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City, 07360, Mexico
| | - América Padilla-Viveros
- Science, Technology and Society Program, . Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City, 07360, Mexico
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6
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Turner L, Martinez JR, Najjar S, Rajapaksha Arachchilage T, Wang JC. Businesses marketing purported stem cell treatments and exosome therapies for COVID-19: An analysis of direct-to-consumer online advertising claims. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:2010-2015. [PMID: 37890484 PMCID: PMC10679647 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We identified 38 businesses advertising purported stem cell interventions and exosome products for COVID-19. These companies operated or facilitated access to 60 clinics. More than 75% of these clinics were based in the United States and Mexico. Thirty-six of the businesses marketed their stem cell and exosome products as treatments for Long COVID, six advertised them as "immune boosters," five claimed to treat patients in the acute infection phase, and two claimed their products were preventive. The least expensive product cost $2,950, the most expensive was $25,000, and the average listed cost for patients was $11,322. The promotion of these products is concerning because they have not been approved by national regulators and do not appear to be supported by convincing safety and efficacy data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Turner
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, 653 E. Peltason Drive, 2nd Floor, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA; Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Family Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
| | - Juan Ramon Martinez
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, 653 E. Peltason Drive, 2nd Floor, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Shemms Najjar
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, 653 E. Peltason Drive, 2nd Floor, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Thevin Rajapaksha Arachchilage
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, 653 E. Peltason Drive, 2nd Floor, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Jia Chieng Wang
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, 653 E. Peltason Drive, 2nd Floor, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
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7
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Turner L, Martinez JR, Najjar S, Arachchilage TR, Sahrai V, Wang JC. Regulatory claims made by US businesses engaged in direct-to-consumer marketing of purported stem cell treatments and exosome therapies. Regen Med 2023; 18:857-868. [PMID: 37867326 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2023-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: This study investigated whether US businesses engaged in direct-to-consumer online marketing of purported stem cell therapies and stem cell-derived exosome products made claims concerning the regulatory status of these interventions. Methods: We used data mining and content analysis of company websites to examine regulatory-related representations made by US businesses marketing stem cell treatments and exosome therapies. Results: More than two thirds of such businesses did not make explicit representations about the regulatory status of their marketed products. Businesses that made claims about the regulatory status of the stem cell and exosome products they sold used range of representations concerning the legal standing of these interventions. Conclusion: The absence of information addressing the regulatory status of stem cell interventions and exosome products and the use of what appeared to be inaccurate information concerning the regulatory status of numerous products likely complicates efforts by customers to make informed health-related decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Turner
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Room 3543, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
- Department of Health, Society, & Behavior, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
- Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Juan Ramon Martinez
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Room 3543, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Shemms Najjar
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Room 3543, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Thevin Rajapaksha Arachchilage
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Room 3543, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Victoria Sahrai
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Room 3543, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Jia Chieng Wang
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Room 3543, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
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8
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Turner L, Martinez JR, Najjar S, Arachchilage TR, Sahrai V, Wang JC. Safety and efficacy claims made by US businesses marketing purported stem cell treatments and exosome therapies. Regen Med 2023; 18:781-793. [PMID: 37795701 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2023-0118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Examining websites of US businesses engaged in direct-to-consumer advertising of putative stem cell treatments and exosome therapies, this study investigated the marketing claims such companies make about the purported safety and efficacy of these products. Methods: Data mining and content analysis of company websites were used to identify and analyze safety and efficacy claims. Results: Of the 978 businesses analyzed, less than half the companies made identifiable claims about the safety and efficacy of their advertised stem cell and exosome products. We also explored how companies framed the stem cell and exosome products they promoted. Representations ranged from assertions that such products are unproven and investigational to claims they constituted cures. Most advertising frames fell between these poles. Conclusion: Some businesses include in their marketing representations claims about the safety and efficacy of advertised products. Businesses that did not make such assertions use other techniques to attract prospective clients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Turner
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
- Department of Health, Society, & Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
- Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Juan Ramon Martinez
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Shemms Najjar
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Thevin Rajapaksha Arachchilage
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Victoria Sahrai
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
| | - Jia Chieng Wang
- Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine, UCI Health Sciences Complex, 856 Health Sciences Quad, Irvine, CA 92697-3957, USA
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Ormond KE, Blasimme A, Vayena E. Ethical Aspects of Pediatric Genetic Care: Testing and Treatment. Pediatr Clin North Am 2023; 70:1029-1046. [PMID: 37704345 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2023.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric health care providers caring for patients and families with genetic disease will encounter a range of ethical issues. These include traditional pediatric health care issues, such as surrogate decision making and end-of-life care. Genetic testing raises the importance of informed consent for potential risks that move beyond the oft discussed physical risks and into longer term concepts such as psychological impact, privacy and potential discrimination. Predictive testing in childhood also raises questions of whether the child has an autonomy interest in delaying testing until they have decision making capacity to do so on their own. And finally, treatments including gene therapies and gene editing, may raise issues of identity for families dealing with genetic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly E Ormond
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Health Ethics & Policy Lab, ETH Zurich. Hottingerstrasse 10, Zurich 8092, Switzerland; Department of Genetics and Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford University School of Medicine.
| | - Alessandro Blasimme
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Health Ethics & Policy Lab, ETH Zurich. Hottingerstrasse 10, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Effy Vayena
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Health Ethics & Policy Lab, ETH Zurich. Hottingerstrasse 10, Zurich 8092, Switzerland
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10
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Ikonomou L, Cuende N, Forte M, Grilley BJ, Levine AD, Munsie M, Rasko JEJ, Turner L, Bidkhori HR, Ciccocioppo R, Grignon F, Srivastava A, Weiss DJ, Zettler P, Levine BL. International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy Position Paper: Key considerations to support evidence-based cell and gene therapies and oppose marketing of unproven products. Cytotherapy 2023; 25:920-929. [PMID: 37517865 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
The field of regenerative medicine, including cellular immunotherapies, is on a remarkable growth trajectory. Dozens of cell-, tissue- and gene-based products have received marketing authorization worldwide while hundreds-to-thousands are either in preclinical development or under clinical investigation in phased clinical trials. However, the promise of regenerative therapies has also given rise to a global industry of direct-to-consumer offerings of prematurely commercialized cell and cell-based products with unknown safety and efficacy profiles. Since its inception, the International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy Committee on the Ethics of Cell and Gene Therapy has opposed the premature commercialization of unproven cell- and gene-based interventions and supported the development of evidence-based advanced therapy products. In the present Guide, targeted at International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy members, we analyze this industry, focusing in particular on distinctive features of unproven cell and cell-based products and the use of tokens of scientific legitimacy as persuasive marketing devices. We also provide an overview of reporting mechanisms for patients who believe they have been harmed by administration of unapproved and unproven products and suggest practical strategies to address the direct-to-consumer marketing of such products. Development of this Guide epitomizes our continued support for the ethical and rigorous development of cell and cell-based products with patient safety and therapeutic benefit as guiding principles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laertis Ikonomou
- Department of Oral Biology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA; Cell, Gene and Tissue Engineering Center, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA.
| | - Natividad Cuende
- Andalusian Transplant Coordination, Servicio Andaluz de Salud; Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Bambi J Grilley
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Aaron D Levine
- School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Megan Munsie
- Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - John E J Rasko
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program Centenary Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Cell & Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Leigh Turner
- Department of Health, Society, and Behavior, Program in Public Health; Stem Cell Research Center; Institute for Clinical and Translational Science; Department of Family Medicine; University of California, Irvine; Irvine, California, USA
| | - Hamid R Bidkhori
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Department, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR)-Khorasan Razavi, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Rachele Ciccocioppo
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Medicine, A.O.U.I. Policlinico G.B. Rossi & University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Felix Grignon
- International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Alok Srivastava
- Department of Haematology, Christian Medical College, Ranipet Campus, Ranipet & Centre for Stem Cell Research (a unit of inStem Bengaluru) CMC Campus, Vellore, India
| | - Daniel J Weiss
- University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Patricia Zettler
- Moritz College of Law, Drug Enforcement and Policy Center, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Bruce L Levine
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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11
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Dulak J, Pecyna M. Unproven cell interventions in Poland and the exploitation of European Union law on advanced therapy medicinal products. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1610-1620. [PMID: 37390824 PMCID: PMC10444563 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The global threat of unproven "stem cell therapies" develops despite the repeated statements of scientific organizations and regulatory agencies warning about the improper rationale, lack of effectiveness, and potential health risks of such commercial activities. Here, this problem is discussed from Poland's perspective, where unjustified "stem cell medical experiments" have raised the concern of responsible scientists and physicians. The paper describes how the European Union law on advanced therapy medicinal products and the hospital exemption rule have been used improperly and unlawfully on a mass scale. The article indicates serious scientific, medical, legal, and social issues of these activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Józef Dulak
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Marlena Pecyna
- Chair of Civil Law, Faculty of Law and Administration, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
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12
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Pang PCI, Munsie M, Chang S, Tanner C, Walker C. Participatory Design and Evaluation of the "Stem Cells Australia" Website for Delivering Complex Health Knowledge: Mixed Methods Study. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e44733. [PMID: 37471121 PMCID: PMC10401697 DOI: 10.2196/44733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The internet has become a commonly used information source for people seeking to understand their health care options. However, inconsistent representation about what stem cell treatments are available and from whom, coupled with the lack of transparency about what has been shown to work or is even safe, can distract and mislead users. Given these challenges, there is a need to develop effective evidence-based tools for delivering information about health care options involving stem cells. OBJECTIVE A need to redesign an existing website in Australia was identified to provide trustworthy information about stem cell research and to counter misinformation. Using a participatory design approach to generate an understanding of what information users need for stem cell treatments, the Stem Cells Australia website serves as a case study for the development and evaluation of websites delivering complex messages about science and health. METHODS This study comprised 3 steps. First, a focus group and several one-on-one interviews with a purposive sample of users (n=12) were conducted to identify their needs and requirements. Second, we designed a new version of the website based on findings from the focus group and interviews. Finally, for evaluating the participatory design process, we collected 180 days of Google Analytics data for both the original and redesigned versions (90 days for each) and compared their differences using 2-sample z tests. RESULTS The feedback from participants was grouped into 3 themes-needed and unwanted information, how and where to obtain information, and their information preferences. These were translated into requirements for rebuilding the website. The redesigned version reached users in other continents, despite the daily numbers of users (-61.2%; P<.001) and sessions (-61.7%; P<.001) decreasing. The redesigned version also showed substantial decrease in daily bounce rate (-97.2%; P<.001), significant increase in the daily average of page reads per session (+110.8%; P<.001), and long daily average for session duration (+22.9%; P=.045). Navigation flow analysis showed more traffic toward web pages related to health conditions in the redesigned version. CONCLUSIONS Websites about stem cell research need to provide content for vulnerable global audiences. Participatory design that addresses knowledge gaps and information needs can produce better performance and engagement, which can be evaluated using Google Analytics, a common web analytics tool used by many websites. Learnings for improving the metrics regarding website identity, research updates, and clinical trials are concluded, which can inform the future design of websites seeking to engage users and provide reliable and accessible science and health information including but not limited to stem cell research and therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan Munsie
- Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
- Stem Cell Ethics and Policy Group, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shanton Chang
- School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Claire Tanner
- School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Christine Walker
- Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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13
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De Luca M, Cossu G. Cost and availability of novel cell and gene therapies: Can we avoid a catastrophic second valley of death?: Can we avoid a catastrophic second valley of death? EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e56661. [PMID: 36592141 PMCID: PMC9900339 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced gene and cellular therapies risk a second "valley of death" due to their high costs and low patient population. As these are life-saving therapies, measures are urgently needed to prevent their withdrawal from the market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele De Luca
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine “Stefano Ferrari”University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Giulio Cossu
- Division of Cell Matrix BiologyRegenerative Medicine University of ManchesterManchesterUK
- INSPE, Division of NeurosciencesOspedale San RaffaeleMilanItaly
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14
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Burns JS. The Art of Stem Cell-Based Therapy. Adv Exp Med Biol 2023; 1420:1-12. [PMID: 37258780 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-30040-0_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Potency assays represent crucial experiments at the hub of the comprehensive complexity surrounding cell therapy. Moreover, numerous factors beyond biological and scientific considerations are involved in achieving successful potency assays that fulfil regulatory authority approval for a new advanced therapy medicinal product. Though this can mean a frustratingly long period of discovery and development, progress in cell therapy is nowadays proceeding remarkably quickly, assisted by the potency assay rigorously placing emphasis on the need to critically analyse the key factor/s responsible for the therapeutic mechanism of action. History has shown that it can take many decades for there to be an improved understanding of a mechanism of action. Yet the chasing of precise targets has revolutionised medicine, with no clearer example than approaches to viral pandemics. The centuries involved in the eradication of smallpox have paved the way for an unprecedented pace of vaccine development for the Covid-19 pandemic. Such extraordinary accomplishments foster encouragement that similarly for stem cell-based therapy, our scientific knowledge will continue to improve apace. This chapter focuses on the art of experimentation and discovery, introducing potency assay requisites and numerous factors that can influence potency assay outcomes. A comprehensive understanding of potency assays and their development can hasten the provision of new cell therapies to help resolve burdensome diseases of unmet medical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge S Burns
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
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15
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Alnasser SM. Stem cell challenge in cancer progression, oncology and therapy. Gene X 2022; 840:146748. [PMID: 35868413 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2022.146748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy consisted in the use of cells to treat damaged tissue, especially in cancer cases. Several cancer treatment techniques are developed today. However, the effectiveness of the treatments as well as the results remain too limited. We will discuss in this work the main advantages of the use of several categories of cells in the treatment of various cancerous diseases. The analysis of the obtained results related to cell therapy across the world over a period of twenty years can help to orient the researchers to the objectives in a more relevant and more reliable manner. The complex challenges of funded cancer care are discussed to provide a clear perspective on the future of administration and current treatment methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sulaiman Mohammed Alnasser
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Unaizah College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia.
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16
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Watson-Levings RS, Palmer GD, Levings PP, Dacanay EA, Evans CH, Ghivizzani SC. Gene Therapy in Orthopaedics: Progress and Challenges in Pre-Clinical Development and Translation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:901317. [PMID: 35837555 PMCID: PMC9274665 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.901317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In orthopaedics, gene-based treatment approaches are being investigated for an array of common -yet medically challenging- pathologic conditions of the skeletal connective tissues and structures (bone, cartilage, ligament, tendon, joints, intervertebral discs etc.). As the skeletal system protects the vital organs and provides weight-bearing structural support, the various tissues are principally composed of dense extracellular matrix (ECM), often with minimal cellularity and vasculature. Due to their functional roles, composition, and distribution throughout the body the skeletal tissues are prone to traumatic injury, and/or structural failure from chronic inflammation and matrix degradation. Due to a mixture of environment and endogenous factors repair processes are often slow and fail to restore the native quality of the ECM and its function. In other cases, large-scale lesions from severe trauma or tumor surgery, exceed the body’s healing and regenerative capacity. Although a wide range of exogenous gene products (proteins and RNAs) have the potential to enhance tissue repair/regeneration and inhibit degenerative disease their clinical use is hindered by the absence of practical methods for safe, effective delivery. Cumulatively, a large body of evidence demonstrates the capacity to transfer coding sequences for biologic agents to cells in the skeletal tissues to achieve prolonged delivery at functional levels to augment local repair or inhibit pathologic processes. With an eye toward clinical translation, we discuss the research progress in the primary injury and disease targets in orthopaedic gene therapy. Technical considerations important to the exploration and pre-clinical development are presented, with an emphasis on vector technologies and delivery strategies whose capacity to generate and sustain functional transgene expression in vivo is well-established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael S. Watson-Levings
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Glyn D. Palmer
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Padraic P. Levings
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - E. Anthony Dacanay
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Christopher H. Evans
- Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MI, United States
| | - Steven C. Ghivizzani
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Steven C. Ghivizzani,
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17
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Assen LS, Jongsma KR, Isasi R, Tryfonidou MA, Bredenoord AL. Roles and responsibilities in stem cell research: a focus group study with stem cell researchers and patients. Regen Med 2022; 17:445-459. [PMID: 35582744 DOI: 10.2217/rme-2022-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The perspectives of researchers and patients regarding roles and responsibilities in stem cell research are rarely studied, but these could offer insights about responsible research conduct. Method: We have conducted a qualitative study consisting of focus groups with both early- (n = 7) and late-career stem cell researchers (n = 11) that are primarily based in Europe, and with Dutch patients with chronic lower back pain (n = 9). These focus groups have been analyzed thematically. Results: Four themes were identified: 1) roles and responsibilities in the laboratory, 2) responsibilities of and toward patients and the public, 3) the role of regulation and 4) structural hurdles for responsibility. Discussion: The results suggest that responsible research conduct could be improved by addressing grant application procedures, publication pressure and by providing support of dissemination activities for researchers. Conclusion: Responsibility in stem cell research could be enhanced by embracing open science initiatives and targeted training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars S Assen
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences & Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3508, GA, The Netherlands
| | - Karin R Jongsma
- Department of Medical Humanities, Julius Center for Health Sciences & Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3508, GA, The Netherlands
| | - Rosario Isasi
- Department of Human Genetics & Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute, Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 3310, USA
| | - Marianna A Tryfonidou
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584, CM, The Netherlands
| | - Annelien L Bredenoord
- Erasmus School of Philosophy, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, 3000, DR, The Netherlands
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18
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Guleria I, de Los Angeles Muñiz M, Wilgo M, Bapat A, Cui W, Hsu YMS, Jeyaraman M, Muthu S, Rodriguez F, Fesnak A, Celluzzi C, Sesok-Pizzini D, Reich-Slotky R, Spitzer T. How do I: Evaluate the safety and legitimacy of unproven cellular therapies? Transfusion 2022; 62:518-532. [PMID: 35143051 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unproven cellular therapies are being offered to patients for a variety of conditions and diseases for which other treatments have failed. The use of untested cellular therapies is a worldwide problem. Practitioners (e.g., physicians, scientists, QA/QI facility managers, and policy advocates) are perhaps unaware of the risks involved with such therapies. Therefore, a critical need exists to bring attention to the potential limitations and adverse effects of these therapies to inform and limit misinformation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We describe the extent of the unproven cellular therapy problem through a search of scientific literature and social media coverage. We also describe the regulatory framework that can be used by the practitioner to review and evaluate both proven and unproven cellular therapies. RESULTS We report on the current state of unproven cellular therapies across the globe. A workflow to facilitate an understanding of the regulatory processes involved in the approval of cellular therapies is provided as well as a list of warnings required by regulatory agencies on various products. It is hoped that this article will serve as a tool kit to educate the practitioner on navigating the field of unproven cellular therapy products. DISCUSSION Increasing awareness of the issues associated with unproven therapies through education is important to help in reducing misinformation and risks to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indira Guleria
- Renal Transplant Program, Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maria de Los Angeles Muñiz
- Transfusion Medicine and Cellular Therapy Division, Department of Pathology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Matthew Wilgo
- New England Cord Blood Bank, Inc., New England Cryogenic Center. Inc., Marlborough, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Asawari Bapat
- Department of Quality and Regulatory Affairs, Infohealth FZE and Questar Enterprises, Dubai, UAE
| | - Wanxing Cui
- Cell Therapy Manufacturing Facility, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Gerorgetown, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Yen-Michael Sheng Hsu
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Madhan Jeyaraman
- Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, Sri Lalithambigai Medical College and Hospital, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai, India
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
| | - Sathish Muthu
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, India
- Department of Orthopaedics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Dindigul, India
| | - Federico Rodriguez
- Collections and Processing Facility, Bone Marrow Transplant Program, UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital, Gainsville, Florida, USA
| | - Andrew Fesnak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christina Celluzzi
- Department of Biotherapies, Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Deborah Sesok-Pizzini
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ronit Reich-Slotky
- John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, New Jersey, USA
| | - Thomas Spitzer
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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19
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Orozco-Solares TE, León-Moreno LC, Rojas-Rizo A, Manguart-Paez K, Caplan AI. Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cell-based treatments legislation in Latin America: The need for standardization in a medical tourism context. Stem Cells Dev 2022; 31:143-162. [PMID: 35216516 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2022.0013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Medicinal Signaling Cells (MSCs) secrete bioactive molecules with paracrine effects. These cells are widely used in basic and clinical research to treat several human diseases and medically relevant conditions. Although there are promising results, only a few treatments are approved of its administration, and clinicians should not underestimate the potential risks of its application without proper authorization. However, some treatments advertised mainly through the internet are not supported by solid or rigorous scientific evidence, legal consent, or the assurance of safety and efficacy, especially in the cell therapy tourism space. This practice allows patients to travel from stringently regulated countries to less restricted ones and increases the flourishing of non-endorsed therapies in these regions. Clinical applications of MSC-based treatments are subject to health legislation, and regulatory agencies are responsible for supervising their manufacture, quality control, and marketing approval. Consensus is needed to homologize and strengthen health legislation regarding those therapies, particularly in regions where medical tourism is frequent. Latin America and the Caribbean, an overlooked region with very heterogeneous legislation regarding cell therapy, is a popular medical tourism destination. Brazil and Argentina created regulations to supervise cell-based treatments manufacture, quality, and marketing. While Mexico, considered the second-largest drug market in Latin America, does not recognize nor authorize any cells as therapy. Also, some regulatory bodies miss the importance of several critical GMP processes to ensure reproducible, reliable, safe, and potentially more favorable results and do not consider them in their legislation. These inconsistencies make the region vulnerable to unproven or unethical treatments, potentially becoming a public health problem involving people from countries worldwide. This review attempts to generate awareness for the legal status of cell therapies in Latin America and the need for standardization as this region is a significant medical tourism destination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lilia Carolina León-Moreno
- Universidad de Guadalajara, 27802, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.,Provida Salud Integral, Research and Development, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico;
| | - Andrea Rojas-Rizo
- Provida Salud Integral, Mesenchymal Stem Cell Bank, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico;
| | - Karen Manguart-Paez
- Provida Salud Integral, Mesenchymal Stem Cell Bank, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico;
| | - Arnold I Caplan
- Case Western Reserve University, 2546, Department of Biology, Cleveland, Ohio, United States;
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20
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Levine BL, Munsie M, Levine AD, Ikonomou L. The peril of the promise of speculative cell banking: Statement from the ISCT Committee on the Ethics of Cell and Gene Therapy. Cytotherapy 2022; 24:977-978. [PMID: 35193823 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2022.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bruce L Levine
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
| | - Megan Munsie
- Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Australia
| | - Aaron D Levine
- School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
| | - Laertis Ikonomou
- Department of Oral Biology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York; Buffalo, NY; Chair, ISCT Committee on the Ethics of Cell and Gene Therapy, https://www.isctglobal.org/about/isct-committees/ecgt
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21
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Arthurs JR, Martin Lillie CM, Master Z, Shapiro SA. The Direct to Consumer Stem Cell Market and the Role of Primary Care Providers in Correcting Misinformation. J Prim Care Community Health 2022; 13:21501319221121460. [PMID: 36112830 PMCID: PMC9476238 DOI: 10.1177/21501319221121460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Direct to consumer stem cell and regenerative interventions (SCRIs) for various medical conditions have increased in popularity due to unmet medical needs and the promise of SCRIs to meet those needs. These interventions may have varying levels of safety and efficacy data and many lack sufficient scientific data to be marketed. The direct to consumer SCRI industry has received significant attention due to potential physical, economic, and emotional harms to patients. Patients may seek the counsel of their primary care providers when considering stem cell therapy for their condition. Methods: Here we describe strategies primary care providers can utilize when counseling patients. Results: Although we recommend constructing these discussions around individual patients’ needs, one can utilize a general approach consisting of 4 parts. First, providers should recognize what information the patient is seeking and what is their understanding of stem cell and regenerative medicine. Next, providers should convey evidence-based information at the level of patients understanding so that they are aware of the risks, benefits, and descriptions of possible procedures. Throughout the conversations, attempts should be made to guide patients to a trusted resource that can provide additional information. Finally, providers should make an effort to address misinformation in a way that is nonjudgmental and patient-centered to make the patient feel safe and comfortable. Conclusion: Effectively communicating risk information by primary care providers to patients is important given the harms reported from direct-to-consumer SCRIs. Correcting misinformation remains a priority when discussing SCRI’s. Providers should strive to offer patients with additional resources such as the opportunity for consultation with a specialist or a consultation service dedicated to informing patients about regenerative medicine.
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22
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Marcon AR, Murdoch B, Caulfield T. Peddling promise? An analysis of private umbilical cord blood banking company websites in Canada. Cell Tissue Bank 2021; 22:609-622. [PMID: 33890172 PMCID: PMC8558271 DOI: 10.1007/s10561-021-09919-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Private umbilical cord blood banking is growing around the world. A family's decision to bank cord blood publicly or privately can be influenced by numerous sources including healthcare practitioners, personal networks, the popular press, social media and marketing discourse from private entities. Issues have been raised concerning how private banks market their services, particularly with regards to the likelihood of use and for what purposes cord blood can be used. The objective of this study was to analyze the marketing on the seven company websites offering private cord blood storage in Canada. We performed a mix of content and general qualitative analysis on the seven websites. Our analysis shows substantial hype around cord blood uses, amplifying the promise of speculative uses and distorting the likelihood of use. Findings show that this promotional messaging often deploys communication strategies which draw on testimonials and emotionally-charged narratives. Questions should be asked about whether the promissory aspects of these websites constitute breaches of Canadian law or regulation. Careful monitoring of the private cord blood space is important for ensuring that the Canadian public is adequately and accurately informed of the services being offered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Blake Murdoch
- Faculty of Law, Health Law Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Timothy Caulfield
- Faculty of Law, Health Law Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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23
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Silva Junior JB, Rodrigues E Silva AA, Melo FCC, Kumoto MC, Parca RM. Associação Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular Consensus on genetically modified cells. Special Article: Advanced therapy medicinal products in Brazil: regulatory panorama. Hematol Transfus Cell Ther 2021; 43 Suppl 2:S68-S77. [PMID: 34794800 PMCID: PMC8606716 DOI: 10.1016/j.htct.2021.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced therapy medicinal products, considered special medications, requires Anvisa approval for use and commercialization in Brazil. They include the advanced cellular therapy products, tissue engineering products and gene therapy products, which due to their complexity involve innovation and risks, optimized regulatory channels for their development and life cycle monitoring. The scientific elements and the compliance with applicable regulatory aspects are fundamental pillars for the advancement of clinical trials, the positive evidence of the benefit-risk profile and the definition of the critical quality attributes, from the perspective of making safe, effective and high-quality products available to the population. The approval models of these products in Brazil adapt to the specificities and characteristics of the technology and the patient target population, with accelerated regulatory analyses, use in emergency situations by risk controls and specific monitoring mechanisms, principally those related to rare diseases without other therapeutic alternatives. The opportune access to the advance therapy product with safety, efficacy and quality involves innovative normative elements that include the long-term follow-up of the safety and efficacy and of the adaptive pharmacovigilance requisites, as well as the traceability mechanisms for the start-off materials, products and patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Batista Silva Junior
- Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde da Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil; Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
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24
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Keller A, Spits C. The Impact of Acquired Genetic Abnormalities on the Clinical Translation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113246. [PMID: 34831467 PMCID: PMC8625075 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) are known to acquire chromosomal abnormalities, which range from point mutations to large copy number changes, including full chromosome aneuploidy. These aberrations have a wide-ranging influence on the state of cells, in both the undifferentiated and differentiated state. Currently, very little is known on how these abnormalities will impact the clinical translation of hPSC, and particularly their potential to prime cells for oncogenic transformation. A further complication is that many of these abnormalities exist in a mosaic state in culture, which complicates their detection with conventional karyotyping methods. In this review we discuss current knowledge on how these aberrations influence the cell state and how this may impact the future of research and the cells’ clinical potential.
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25
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Turner L, Munsie M, Levine AD, Ikonomou L. Ethical issues and public communication in the development of cell-based treatments for COVID-19: Lessons from the pandemic. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2567-2576. [PMID: 34653406 PMCID: PMC8516140 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The significant morbidity and mortality of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) prompted a global race to develop new therapies. These include interventions using cell- or cell-derived products, several of which are being tested in well-designed, properly controlled clinical trials. Yet, the search for cell-based COVID-19 treatments has also been fraught with hyperbolic claims; flouting of crucial regulatory, scientific, and ethical norms; and distorted communication of research findings. In this paper, we critically examine ethical issues and public communication challenges related to the development of cell-based therapeutics for COVID-19. Drawing on the lessons learned from this ongoing process, we argue against the rushed development of cell-based interventions. We conclude by outlining ways to improve the ethical conduct of cell-based clinical investigations and public communication of therapeutic claims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Turner
- Department of Health, Society, and Behavior, Program in Public Health and Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Megan Munsie
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Aaron D Levine
- School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Laertis Ikonomou
- Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, 619 Biomedical Research Building (BRB), South Campus, Buffalo, NY 14214-8024, USA.
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Cook M, Richey A, Brafman DA, Frow EK. Weighing up the evidence used by direct-to-consumer stem cell businesses. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2852-2860. [PMID: 34767748 PMCID: PMC8693621 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Hundreds of businesses across the United States offer direct-to-consumer stem-cell-based interventions that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Here, we characterize the types of evidence used on the websites of 59 stem cell businesses in the Southwest United States to market their services. We identify over a dozen forms of evidence, noting that businesses are less likely to rely on “gold-standard” scientific evidence, like randomized clinical trials, and instead draw substantially on forms of evidence that we identify as being “ambiguous.” Ambiguous evidence has some scientific or medical basis, but its interpretation is highly context-dependent. These findings highlight the interpretive responsibility placed on prospective patients. We identify actions for regulators and professional societies to assist with evaluating evidence, but caution that focusing on the (in)validity of particular evidence types is unlikely to eliminate demand for stem-cell-based treatments in this complex marketplace. We characterize the evidence used by 59 stem cell businesses in the Southwest United States We identify that clinics rely on scientifically and medically “ambiguous” evidence Ambiguous evidence places interpretive responsibility on prospective patients We offer suggestions to help prospective patients navigate this complex landscape
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Cook
- School of Biological & Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Alexandra Richey
- School of Biological & Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - David A Brafman
- School of Biological & Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Emma K Frow
- School of Biological & Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA; School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA.
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Lappin T, Cheng T. An urgent need for standardization of stem cells and stem cell-derived products toward clinical applications. Stem Cells Transl Med 2021; 10 Suppl 2:S1-S3. [PMID: 34724716 PMCID: PMC8560195 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.21-0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Terry Lappin
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Tao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Blood Diseases, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.,Center for Stem Cell Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Lyons S, Salgaonkar S, Flaherty GT. International stem cell tourism: a critical literature review and evidence-based recommendations. Int Health 2021; 14:132-141. [PMID: 34415026 PMCID: PMC8890798 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihab050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell tourism is an emerging area of medical tourism activity. Frustrated by the slow translation of stem cell research into clinical practice, patients with debilitating conditions often seek therapeutic options that are not appropriately regulated. This review summarises recent developments in the field of stem cell tourism and provides clinicians with the information necessary to provide basic pretravel health advice to stem cell tourists. PubMed and Scopus databases were consulted for relevant publications, using combinations of the terms 'stem cell', 'tourism', 'regenerative medicine', 'international', 'travel medicine' and 'environmental health'. The leading countries in the international stem cell tourism market are the USA, China, India, Thailand and Mexico. As the majority of clinics offering stem cell therapies are based in low- and-middle-income countries, stem cell tourists place themselves at risk of receiving an unproven treatment, coupled with the risk of travel-related illnesses. These clinics do not generally provide even basic travel health information on their websites. In addition to often being ineffective, stem cell therapies are associated with complications such as infection, rejection and tumorigenesis. Physicians, researchers, regulatory bodies, advocacy groups and medical educators are encouraged to work together to improve patient and physician education and address current legislative deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Lyons
- School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland.,Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shival Salgaonkar
- School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Gerard T Flaherty
- School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland.,School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Rudge C, Ghinea N, Munsie M, Stewart C. Regulating autologous stem cell interventions in Australia: updated review of the direct-to-consumer advertising restrictions. AUST HEALTH REV 2021; 45:507-515. [PMID: 33952390 DOI: 10.1071/ah20217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Objective This paper provides an update and overview of the law governing direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of autologous stem cell interventions (ASCIs) in Australia. It follows significant changes to the advertising regulations made in 2018. Methods The paper reviews the three primary sources or 'centres' of law regulating ASCIs in Australia, together with the relevant guidance documents that supplement these sources. It provides analysis of how the post-2018 advertising regulations, contained in the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cwlth), apply to all 'biologicals', including ASCIs. It demonstrates how these three sources of law interact with one another and outlines the new tiered offence regime that applies to contraventions of these prohibitions. Results The analysis demonstrates that DTC advertising of ASCIs in Australia is strictly controlled, with primary legislation prohibiting the advertising of biologicals altogether. Conclusions The polycentric legal regime regulating biologicals in Australia clearly makes DTC advertising of ASCIs unlawful. Health practitioners who promote ASCIs, either online, in print or in other media forms, may be penalised in different ways and by different authorities. What is known about the topic? Although several analyses have examined the regulation of ASCIs in Australia, no analysis has studied the reforms made in 2018 relating to the advertising of biologicals. As such, this analysis contributes a fresh examination of these relatively recent reforms. What does this paper add? This analysis clarifies the effects of these new advertising regulations, providing clear guidance on the relevant legal provisions for the benefit of health practitioners and health professionals more generally. What are the implications for practitioners? Health practitioners, especially those who offer ASCIs, should be aware that civil and criminal penalties are likely to be imposed on individuals who promote biologicals in Australia by any means.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Rudge
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia. ; and Corresponding author.
| | - Narcyz Ghinea
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Megan Munsie
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
| | - Cameron Stewart
- Faculty of Law, Rm No 337, New Law Building, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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Acero L. Framing regenerative medicine: culturally specific stories of an emerging technoscience. BioSocieties. [DOI: 10.1057/s41292-021-00236-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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31
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Takashima K, Morrison M, Minari J. Reflection on the enactment and impact of safety laws for regenerative medicine in Japan. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:1425-1434. [PMID: 34019814 PMCID: PMC8190593 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Japan's Act on the Safety of Regenerative Medicine (ASRM) created an innovative regulatory framework intended to safely promote the clinical development of stem cell-based interventions (SCBIs) while subjecting commercialized unproven SCBIs to greater scrutiny and accountability. This article reviews ASRM's origins, explains its unprecedented scope, and assesses how it envisions the regulation of SCBIs. This analysis is used to highlight three key insights that are pertinent to the current revision of the ASRM: clarifying how the concept of safety should be defined and assessed in research and clinical care settings; revisiting risk criteria for review of SCBIs; and taking stronger measures to support the transition from unproven interventions to evidence-based therapies. Finally, the article reflects on lessons drawn from Japanese experiences in dealing with unproven SCBIs for international endeavors to regulate SCBIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayo Takashima
- Uehiro Research Division of iPS Cell Ethics, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan; Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-856, Japan
| | - Michael Morrison
- Centre for Health, Law and Emerging Technologies (HeLEX), Faculty of Law, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 7DD, UK; Institute for Science, Innovation and Society, School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford, Oxford OX2 6PN, UK.
| | - Jusaku Minari
- Uehiro Research Division of iPS Cell Ethics, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
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32
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Turner L, Snyder J. Ethical issues concerning a pay-to-participate stem cell study. Stem Cells Transl Med 2021; 10:815-819. [PMID: 34010517 PMCID: PMC8133334 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.20-0428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In our critique of a pay-to-participate study, we address how the failure to disclose study-related payments appears to have violated STEM CELLS Translational Medicine's editorial policies concerning conflict-of-interest and financial disclosure. Our analysis also identifies broader ethical issues and scientific concerns related to pay-to-participate studies conducted by businesses with a record of selling purported stem cell treatments before determining whether the products they sell are safe and efficacious. Authors of peer-reviewed articles have a responsibility to comply with journal policies and disclose financial conflicts of interest to editors, reviewers, and readers. Authors should also disclose when stem cell interventions being tested in clinical trials have already been sold on a direct-to-consumer basis as "stem cell treatments" by authors' affiliate institutions. Financial conflicts of interest and other forms of possible bias must be disclosed to put clinical studies in context and facilitate the critical assessment of research methods, findings, and conclusions. The apparent failure to comply with journal editorial policies and disclose such financial conflicts warrants careful investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Turner
- University of MinnesotaCenter for BioethicsMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Jeremy Snyder
- Simon Fraser UniversityFaculty of Health SciencesBurnabyBritish ColumbiaCanada
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Master Z, Matthews KRW, Abou-El-Enein M. Unproven stem cell interventions: A global public health problem requiring global deliberation. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:1435-1445. [PMID: 34107243 PMCID: PMC8190665 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The unproven stem cell intervention (SCI) industry is a global health problem. Despite efforts of some nations, the industry continues to flourish. In this paper, we call for a global approach and the establishment of a World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Advisory Committee on Regenerative Medicine to tackle this issue and provide guidance. The WHO committee can harmonize national regulations; promote regulatory approaches responsive to unmet patient needs; and formulate an education campaign against misinformation. Fostering an international dialog and developing recommendations that can be adopted by member states would effectively address the global market of unproven SCIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubin Master
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program and the Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Kirstin R W Matthews
- Baker Institute for Public Policy Center for Health and Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mohamed Abou-El-Enein
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, and Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Joint USC/CHLA Cell Therapy Program, University of Southern California, and Children Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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34
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Glassberg MK, Csete I, Simonet E, Elliot SJ. Stem Cell Therapy for COPD: Hope and Exploitation. Chest 2021; 160:1271-1281. [PMID: 33894254 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2021.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
COPD is a chronic inflammatory and destructive disease characterized by progressive decline in lung function that can accelerate with aging. Preclinical studies suggest that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may provide a therapeutic option for this incurable disease because of their antiinflammatory, reparative, and immunomodulatory properties. To date, clinical trials using MSCs demonstrate safety in patients with COPD. However, because of the notable absence of large, multicenter randomized trials, no efficacy or evidence exists to support the possibility that MSCs can restore lung function in patients with COPD. Unfortunately, the investigational status of cell-based interventions for lung diseases has not hindered the propagation of commercial businesses, exploitation of the public, and explosion of medical tourism to promote unproven and potentially harmful cell-based interventions for COPD in the United States and worldwide. Patients with COPD constitute the largest group of patients with lung disease flocking to these unregulated clinics. This review highlights the numerous questions and concerns that remain before the establishment of cell-based interventions as safe and efficacious treatments for patients with COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn K Glassberg
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ.
| | | | | | - Sharon J Elliot
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ; University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
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35
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Smith C, Crowley A, Munsie M, DeMartino ES, Staff NP, Shapiro S, Master Z. Academic physician specialists' views toward the unproven stem cell intervention industry: areas of common ground and divergence. Cytotherapy 2021; 23:348-356. [PMID: 33563545 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2020.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Premature commercialization of unproven stem cell interventions (SCIs) has received significant attention within the regenerative medicine community. Patients considering SCIs may encounter misinformation and seek out guidance from their physicians who are trusted brokers of health information. However, little is known about the perspectives of academic physician specialists toward the SCI industry. The purpose of this study was to capture the attitudes of physician specialists with experience addressing patient questions about unproven SCIs. METHODS The authors undertook 25 semi-structured interviews with academic physicians in cardiology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pulmonology and neurology primarily from one academic center. RESULTS The authors identified two major themes: concerns and mediators of appropriateness of offering SCIs as therapies to patients. Specialists were generally aware of the industry and reported scientific and commercial concerns, including the scientific uncertainty of SCIs, medical harms to patients, misleading marketing and its impact on patient informed consent and economic harms due to large out-of-pocket costs for patients. All specialists outside of orthopedics voiced that it was inappropriate to be offering SCIs to patients today. These views were informed by previously expressed concerns surrounding safety and properly informing patients, levels of evidence needed prior to offering SCIs therapeutically and desired qualifications for clinicians. Among the specialties, orthopedists reported that under certain conditions, SCIs may be appropriate for patients with limited clinical options but only when safety is adequate, expectations are managed and patients are well informed about the risks and chances of benefit. Most participants expressed a desire for phase 3 studies and Food and Drug Administration approval prior to marketing SCIs, but some also shared the challenges associated with upholding these thresholds of evidence, especially when caring for out-of-option patients. CONCLUSIONS The authors' results suggest that medical specialists are aware of the industry and express several concerns surrounding SCIs but differ in their views on the appropriateness and clinical evidence necessary for offering SCIs currently to patients. Additional educational tools may help physicians with patient engagement and expectation management surrounding SCIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cambray Smith
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA; University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Aidan Crowley
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Megan Munsie
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Centre for Stem Cell Systems, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Erin S DeMartino
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Biomedical Ethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nathan P Staff
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Shane Shapiro
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Zubin Master
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program and Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
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Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated proteins 9 (Cas9), a gene-editing technology, has been extensively applied as a tool for genetic engineering in basic research. Efficient genome engineering has been performed in viruses, human cells, bacteria, fungi, plants and animals, etc. Currently, it has been employed to edit human viruses for studying viral molecular biology, pathogenesis and oncogenesis, and facilitate the development of antiviral agents and vaccine. The virus is ubiquitous worldwide and elicits global health problems, many human diseases are associated with virus infections. Although traditional drugs can be used to treat or prevent productive viral infections, their efficacy is limited because of toxicity, side effects and other problems. Additionally, no current drugs are approved to be indicated for latent infections. Therefore, the next highlight is to develop antiviral approaches to against both productive and latent infections. Fortunately, CRISPR has been successfully applied in the removal of human viruses ex vivo and/or in vivo, and has the potential to be used to manufacture antiviral agents for clinical application. CRISPR/Cas9 is promising in applications, even though some technical challenges, safety concerns, ethic concerns need to be improved. In this article, the discovery and application of genome editing and removal of human viruses based on CRISPR are explored. Additionally, we evaluate the prospects and limitations of this novel antiviral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Chuan Chen
- Jenteh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli County, Taiwan; Program in Comparative Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States.
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37
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Pritchett JW. The debit side of stem-cell joint injections: a prospective cohort study. Current Orthopaedic Practice 2021; 32:118-123. [DOI: 10.1097/bco.0000000000000961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Abstract
Regenerative medicine is a growing field of musculoskeletal treatments that focuses on amplifying the body's natural healing properties to improve function and pain after injury. Regenerative treatments are applied locally at the site of injury and work though different mechanisms, some of which are unexplained at this time. Current evidence demonstrates benefit for certain regenerative treatments, but further standardization of treatments and additional studies are required to provide additional data to support specific regenerative treatments. This review seeks to explore the evidence and discuss appropriate use of the most common regenerative treatments including platelet-rich plasma, prolotherapy, autologous mesenchymal stem cells, human-derived allograft products, and saline.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neil M Orpen
- Orthopaedic Spine, BMI Ridgeway Hospital, Wroughton, UK
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40
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Master Z, Crowley AP, Smith C, Wigle D, Terzic A, Sharp RR. Stem cell preservation for regenerative therapies: ethical and governance considerations for the health care sector. NPJ Regen Med 2020; 5:23. [PMID: 33298936 PMCID: PMC7708480 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-020-00108-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The stem cell preservation industry has grown substantially with private businesses, public hospitals, and academic medical centers considering preserving induced pluripotent stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and other cell types of patients and the public in order to potentially use them for stem cell therapy should such an intervention exist in the future. Despite this growth and interest among private firms and academic centers, no study has yet considered the bioethical issues of such platforms. In this article, we explore several ethical and social issues related to the biopreservation of stem cells for future regenerative therapies. We analyze a range of bioethical considerations that public and private institutions should bear in mind as they develop stem cell preservation platforms. These include medical validation of regenerative interventions and their influence on the public understanding of stem cell therapies, the impact of public trust of organizations creating a private, for-profit venture of stem cell preservation, and logistical issues in the governance of the collection including ownership and dispositional authority, informed consent and access, and withdrawal and non-payment. These considerations should be incorporated into current and future stem cell preservation platforms in order to promote the responsible translation of regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zubin Master
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
| | - Aidan P Crowley
- College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
| | - Cambray Smith
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Dennis Wigle
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Andre Terzic
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Richard R Sharp
- Biomedical Ethics Research Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
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Lipworth W, Kerridge I, Montgomery K, Komesaroff PA. Promoting ethics across the healthcare sector: what can codes achieve? Intern Med J 2020; 50:1333-1338. [PMID: 33215835 DOI: 10.1111/imj.15051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Over the course of the twentieth century, numerous national and international ethics 'codes' have been developed. While such codes serve important substantive and symbolic functions, they can also pose challenges. In this article, we discuss these challenges, noting that they fall into four main categories relating to conceptual tensions, power imbalances, organisational barriers, and threats of exploitation. We illustrate these challenges using examples provided from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. We emphasise the importance of accountability in the development and maintenance of national and international codes and argue that, despite all their challenges, codes provide an important common language among otherwise disparate and sometimes adversarial groups, and provide visible and explicit sets of standards that may be invoked by community members to criticise and hold powerful bodies to account. This is particularly important for practitioners and researchers who belong to organisations that are signatories to codes, who can use these codes to both guide and justify ethical behaviour in the face of competing organisational, professional and political imperatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Lipworth
- Sydney Health Ethics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian Kerridge
- Department of Haematology, Royal North Shore Hospital and Sydney Health Ethics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Paul A Komesaroff
- Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Lv J, Su Y, Song L, Gong X, Peng Y. Stem cell 'therapy' advertisements in China: Infodemic, regulations and recommendations. Cell Prolif 2020; 53:e12937. [PMID: 33146925 PMCID: PMC7705907 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the pandemic itself, a phenomenon called an 'infodemic'-defined by the World Health Organization as the spread of misleading information on the pandemic-has also gained attention. In the field of stem cell research, researchers and regulators have been fighting against false and misleading information, particularly advertisements for unproven and unauthorized stem cell-based interventions for decades. However, how existing legal and regulatory measures, which vary by country, can be employed to combat such false information is unclear. In this article, we examine the situation in China, where the spread of unauthorized stem cell 'therapies' has drawn patients from not only within China but also from abroad. First, we assess how and to what extent online advertisements promote unproven and unauthorized stem cell-based interventions directly to patients and prospective health consumers in China. Next, we survey the landscape for existing regulatory and administrative measures that may be used to combat false and misleading advertisements in this area. Finally, based on our analysis, we provide three main recommendations that may improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the regulatory measures in curtailing illegitimate advertising of unproven and unauthorized stem cell-based interventions in China. In conclusion, we also call for international collaboration among researchers and regulators in studying and strengthening regulations in this critical area that has so far been neglected in scholarly and policy discussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yeyang Su
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lingqiao Song
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Center of Genomics, and Policy, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Xia Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaojin Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Snyder J, Turner L. Crowdfunding, stem cell interventions and autism spectrum disorder: comparing campaigns related to an international "stem cell clinic" and US academic medical center. Cytotherapy 2021; 23:198-202. [PMID: 33082092 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Studies examining crowdfunding campaigns for stem cell interventions have typically focused on campaigns seeking funds to send individuals to businesses marketing unlicensed and unproven stem cell products. However, some crowdfunding campaigns identify academic medical centers as destinations for individuals seeking access to stem cell products provided either in clinical studies or on an expanded access basis. This study examines crowdfunding campaigns seeking funds to enable children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder access to stem cell interventions. METHODS This study compares and contrasts crowdfunding campaigns, identifying an international stem cell clinic marketing a purported umbilical cord blood-derived stem cell treatment for autism spectrum disorder, with campaigns soliciting donations intended to help children with autism spectrum disorder either participate in clinical studies or obtain expanded access to stem cell products provided at an academic medical center in the US. RESULTS Campaigns connected to both sites contained inaccurate claims. However, campaigns identifying the international clinic as the intended destination site made stronger claims about efficacy and were more reliant upon testimonials than campaigns listing the US-based academic medical center as the planned clinical site. Acknowledging these important distinctions, clinical studies and press releases associated with the academic medical center played an important role in lending the perception of credibility to the putative stem cell treatments marketed by the international clinic. CONCLUSIONS The study's findings emphasize how important it is for researchers at academic medical centers and comparable research facilities to avoid engaging in stem cell hyperbole; highlight the preliminary nature of early clinical studies; ensure that any claims about safety and efficacy are based upon robust and reliable evidence; and promote responsible science communication by exercising restraint when crafting press releases, conducting media interviews and otherwise publicizing clinical research findings.
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Cuende N, Álvarez-Márquez AJ, Díaz-Aunión C, Castro P, Huet J, Pérez-Villares JM. Promoting the ethical use of safe and effective cell-based products: the Andalusian plan on regenerative medicine. Cytotherapy 2020; 22:712-717. [PMID: 32878735 PMCID: PMC7456586 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2020.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
With regard to regenerative medicine, the expectations generated over the last two decades and the time involved in developing this type of therapies, together with the availability of devices that allow point-of-care treatments through the rapid isolation of cellular or plasma products from patients in the operating theater, represent the perfect breeding ground for the offering of unproven or unregulated therapies on a global scale. A multidisciplinary approach-one based on the collaboration of institutions that, from the perspective of their area of competence, can contribute to reversing this worrying situation-to this problem is essential. It is a priority for local health authorities to take measures that are adapted to the particular situation and regulatory framework of their respective territory. In this article, the authors present the regenerative medicine action plan promoted by the Andalusian Transplant Coordination (i.e., the action plan for the largest region in Spain), highlighting the aspects the authors believe are fundamental to its success. The authors describe, in summary form, the methodology, phases of the plan, actions designed, key collaborators, important milestones achieved and main lessons they have drawn from their experience so that this can serve as an example for other institutions interested in promoting the ethical use of this type of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natividad Cuende
- Coordinación Autonómica de Trasplantes de Andalucía, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Sevilla, Spain.
| | | | - Concepción Díaz-Aunión
- Coordinación Autonómica de Trasplantes de Andalucía, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Pablo Castro
- Coordinación Autonómica de Trasplantes de Andalucía, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Jesús Huet
- Coordinación Autonómica de Trasplantes de Andalucía, Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Sevilla, Spain
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Richardson
- Director, Health Care Products Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, 901 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | - Farzana Akkas
- Senior Research Associate, Health Care Products Project, The Pew Charitable Trusts, 901 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004-2008, USA
| | - Zubin Master
- Associate Professor, Biomedical Ethics Research Program & Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Ikonomou L, Wagner DE, Turner L, Weiss DJ. Translating Basic Research into Safe and Effective Cell-based Treatments for Respiratory Diseases. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2019; 16:657-68. [PMID: 30917290 DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201812-890CME] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pulmonary fibrosis, result in severely impaired quality of life and impose significant burdens on healthcare systems worldwide. Current disease management involves pharmacologic interventions, oxygen administration, reduction of infections, and lung transplantation in advanced disease stages. An increasing understanding of mechanisms of respiratory epithelial and pulmonary vascular endothelial maintenance and repair and the underlying stem/progenitor cell populations, including but not limited to airway basal cells and type II alveolar epithelial cells, has opened the possibility of cell replacement-based regenerative approaches for treatment of lung diseases. Further potential for personalized therapies, including in vitro drug screening, has been underscored by the recent derivation of various lung epithelial, endothelial, and immune cell types from human induced pluripotent stem cells. In parallel, immunomodulatory treatments using allogeneic or autologous mesenchymal stromal cells have shown a good safety profile in clinical investigations for acute inflammatory conditions, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and septic shock. However, as yet, no cell-based therapy has been shown to be both safe and effective for any lung disease. Despite the investigational status of cell-based interventions for lung diseases, businesses that market unproven, unlicensed and potentially harmful cell-based interventions for respiratory diseases have proliferated in the United States and worldwide. The current status of various cell-based regenerative approaches for lung disease as well as the effect of the regulatory environment on clinical translation of such approaches are presented and critically discussed in this review.
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Łoboda A, Dulak J. Muscle and cardiac therapeutic strategies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: past, present, and future. Pharmacol Rep 2020; 72:1227-1263. [PMID: 32691346 PMCID: PMC7550322 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-020-00134-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe X-linked neuromuscular childhood disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness and degeneration and results in functional decline, loss of ambulation and early death of young men due to cardiac or respiratory failure. Although the major cause of the disease has been known for many years-namely mutation in the DMD gene encoding dystrophin, one of the largest human genes-DMD is still incurable, and its treatment is challenging. METHODS A comprehensive and systematic review of literature on the gene, cell, and pharmacological experimental therapies aimed at restoring functional dystrophin or to counteract the associated processes contributing to disease progression like inflammation, fibrosis, calcium signaling or angiogenesis was carried out. RESULTS Although some therapies lead to satisfying effects in skeletal muscle, they are highly ineffective in the heart; therefore, targeting defective cardiac and respiratory systems is vital in DMD patients. Unfortunately, most of the pharmacological compounds treat only the symptoms of the disease. Some drugs addressing the underlying cause, like eteplirsen, golodirsen, and ataluren, have recently been conditionally approved; however, they can correct only specific mutations in the DMD gene and are therefore suitable for small sub-populations of affected individuals. CONCLUSION In this review, we summarize the possible therapeutic options and describe the current status of various, still imperfect, strategies used for attenuating the disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Łoboda
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
| | - Józef Dulak
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
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Salerno A, Brady K, Rikkers M, Li C, Caamaño-Gutierrez E, Falciani F, Blom AW, Whitehouse MR, Hollander AP. MMP13 and TIMP1 are functional markers for two different potential modes of action by mesenchymal stem/stromal cells when treating osteoarthritis. Stem Cells 2020; 38:1438-1453. [PMID: 32652878 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated as a potential injectable therapy for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, with some evidence of success in preliminary human trials. However, optimization and scale-up of this therapeutic approach depends on the identification of functional markers that are linked to their mechanism of action. One possible mechanism is through their chondrogenic differentiation and direct role in neo-cartilage synthesis. Alternatively, they could remain undifferentiated and act through the release of trophic factors that stimulate endogenous repair processes within the joint. Here, we show that extensive in vitro aging of bone marrow-derived human MSCs leads to loss of chondrogenesis but no reduction in trophic repair, thereby separating out the two modes of action. By integrating transcriptomic and proteomic data using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, we found that reduced chondrogenesis with passage is linked to downregulation of the FOXM1 signaling pathway while maintenance of trophic repair is linked to CXCL12. In an attempt at developing functional markers of MSC potency, we identified loss of mRNA expression for MMP13 as correlating with loss of chondrogenic potential of MSCs and continued secretion of high levels of TIMP1 protein as correlating with the maintenance of trophic repair capacity. Since an allogeneic injectable osteoar therapy would require extensive cell expansion in vitro, we conclude that early passage MMP13+ , TIMP1-secretinghigh MSCs should be used for autologous OA therapies designed to act through engraftment and chondrogenesis, while later passage MMP13- , TIMP1-secretinghigh MSCs could be exploited for allogeneic OA therapies designed to act through trophic repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Salerno
- Institute of Lifecourse and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Kyla Brady
- Institute of Lifecourse and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Margot Rikkers
- Institute of Lifecourse and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Chao Li
- Institute of Lifecourse and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Eva Caamaño-Gutierrez
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Computational Biology Facility, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Francesco Falciani
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Computational Biology Facility, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Ashley W Blom
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Michael R Whitehouse
- Musculoskeletal Research Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Anthony P Hollander
- Institute of Lifecourse and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Unsworth DJ, Mathias JL, Dorstyn DS, Koblar SA. Are patient educational resources effective at deterring stroke survivors from considering experimental stem cell treatments? A randomized controlled trial. Patient Educ Couns 2020; 103:1373-1381. [PMID: 32081514 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2020.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether online resources developed to educate people about the risks associated with experimental stem cell (SC) treatments influence stroke survivors' attitudes about the safety and effectiveness of these treatments. METHODS Adult stroke survivors who had not previously received SC treatments (N = 112) were recruited from international stroke advocacy/support groups for a prospective, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Participants indicated whether they were considering SC treatments (yes/no) prior to, immediately following, and 30-days after reading/viewing the International Society for Stem Cell Research booklet or Stem Cell Network video. Participant attitudes regarding the safety, effectiveness, accessibility and affordability of SC treatments were examined on each occasion, and compared to those of a waitlist control group. RESULTS Significantly fewer participants were considering SC treatments immediately after reading the SC research booklet (p =.031), although neither intervention had any impact after 30-days (p >.05). Waitlist and intervention groups reported positive attitudes toward SC treatments at each assessment. CONCLUSIONS Stroke survivor attitudes toward SC treatments were initially influenced by the patient booklet, however these changes were not maintained. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS Clinicians are encouraged to initiate discussions about experimental SC treatments during inpatient rehabilitation and to reinforce the risks throughout subsequent care.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Unsworth
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - J L Mathias
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
| | - D S Dorstyn
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - S A Koblar
- Stroke Research Programme, University of Adelaide School of Medicine, South Australian Health and Medical Research (SAHMRI), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Department of Neurology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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50
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Lipworth W, Fitzpatrick J, Cosenza A, Kerridge I, Subramanian P, Verhoeven A, Wells L. A major new alliance in Australian healthcare: the Australian consensus framework for ethical collaboration in the healthcare sector. Intern Med J 2020; 50:679-684. [PMID: 32537918 DOI: 10.1111/imj.14861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The 'Australian Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration in the Healthcare Sector' (ACF) is an Australian initiative aimed at countering dysfunction and growing mistrust in the health sector through the development of a cross-sectoral consensus framework. The development of this framework arose from Australia's involvement in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperative (APEC) and has since become the largest of its kind internationally, with over 70 signatories representing professional bodies, industry organisations, hospital and health services associations, regulators and patient and advocacy groups. In this article, we describe and critique the framework and outline its implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Lipworth
- Sydney Health Ethics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jane Fitzpatrick
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adrian Cosenza
- Australian Orthopaedic Association, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian Kerridge
- Sydney Health Ethics, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Alison Verhoeven
- Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, Deakin, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Leanne Wells
- Consumers Health Forum of Australia, Deakin, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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