Philippines government to crack down on unaccredited stem cell treatment

Manila: The government is poised to launch a crackdown on establishments offering stem cell treatment without proper accreditation amid reports that at least two lawmakers had died after undergoing such medical procedure.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said a number of commercial establishments had mushroomed across the country offering stem cell therapy, however, only a few of these are properly accredited by the Department of Health.

Reports quoted Ona as saying that patrons are putting their lives at risk by getting service from these practitioners instead of government accredited establishments.

The crackdown on unlicensed clinics and hospitals providing these kind of medical services in the country came in the wake of reports that two lawmakers and a government executive had died after undergoing stem cell therapy.

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According to Dr Leo Olarte, President of the Philippine Medical Association, the three had separately undergone stem cell therapy to cure their respective illnesses, particularly liver cancer, heart disease and pneumonia. The three were all senior aged.

We were told that the two died one year after undergoing the medical procedures while the third passed away only recently, he said.

At least one of the patients, received treatment from a doctor who had studied in Germany who is known to use stem cells taken from non-human sources such as rabbits and sheep.

Stem cell therapies is a relatively new field in medicine, and according to Olarte, they should only be performed in government-accredited hospitals and clinics and the cells should only be taken from the patient to minimise the risk of rejection.

Rejection, the process wherein the patients own antibodies react of a foreign cell, can be fatal to the patient.

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Philippines government to crack down on unaccredited stem cell treatment

Pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons may be a viable Parkinson’s disease treatment

Public release date: 28-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Robert Miranda cogcomm@aol.com Cell Transplantation Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair

Putnam Valley, NY. (Jun. 28 2013) A team of researchers from Rush University, Yale University, the University of Colorado and the St. Kitts Biomedical Research Foundation transplanted human embryonic stem cells into primate laboratory animals modeled with Parkinson's disease and found "robust survival" of the cells after six weeks and indications that the cells were "well integrated" into the host animals. The study appears as an early e-publication for the journal Cell Transplantation, and is now freely available on-line at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cog/ct/pre-prints/ct1000wakeman.

"Parkinson's disease was one of the first neurological disorders to be studied for potential replacement of lost neurons," said Dr. D. Eugene Redmond of Yale University School of Medicine. "Since the 1970s there has been significant progress with learning the required gene expression, growth factors and culture conditions for differentiating cells into apparent dopamine neurons."

However, the researchers noted that transplanted dopamine neurons have not produced "long-lasting midbrain specific neurons when transplanted into rodents or monkeys" and there have only been pilot reports of functional improvement.

According to the study authors, their study tested the long-term survival and functional benefit of apparent dopamine neurons in monkeys modeled with Parkinson's disease. As with other studies, their results found that the gene expression of the rate limiting synthetic enzyme for dopamine production, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), was "transient" after transplantation, raising questions about the optimal cell stage and culture environment that favor graft survival and the factors that could impact cell transplantation. Once more, a more robust immunosuppression regimen than employed in other primate studies resulted in better cell survival.

"Our results demonstrate that pluripotent stem cell line-derived neurons retain the capacity to robustly survive and respond to cues in the primate brain," they wrote. "The absence of TH expression indicates that other methods may be necessary to produce and maintain the proper midbrain dopaminergic form of the cells in vivo."

While their study demonstrated robust survival of the cells, the researchers said that longer term studies are required to better understand what factors may impact long-term function replacement and whether they demonstrate significant reversal of parkinsonism, tumor formation or dyskinesias, the latter being a side effect of current treatments for Parkinson's Disease.

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Pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons may be a viable Parkinson's disease treatment

Palace: ‘Cure-all’ stem cell therapies not true

MANILA - Hospitals in the Philippines offering stem cell treatment should be accredited by the Department of Health, Malacaang said Friday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said hospitals must file the needed requirements for accreditation beginning August 31.

The DOH will issue an administrative order regarding this in the wake of reports that three politicians died after undergoing the treatment abroad. Ang ina-accredit po ng DOH ay mga ospital para po doon sa mga ganitong treatment and come August 31, kailangan na pong mag-file ng mga ospital noong kanilang accreditation requirements for them to continue to offer this treatment, kung sakaling meron na po sila. So may accreditation process po yan, Valte said. She warned the public against individuals or clinics that claim they are authorized to conduct stem cell operations and those that claim they are capable of giving cure-all stem cell treatments. Uulitin po natin, yung ospital po yung ina-accredit hindi po yung doktor. Hindi po individual. Yung mga stand-alone clinic po, hindi po yan pwedeng magpa-accredit sa DOH so yun po yung isang warning po natin doon sa ating mga kababayan, Valte said. Isa pa pong interesting point, mula po sa DOH: Yung stem cell treatment daw po is geared toward a certain purpose. Yung mga sinasabi pong mga cure-all ay peke po yun. Wala pong ganoong treatment that will cure all of your ills much less your love problems. Pero meron pong mga kinds po ng mga stem cell treatment. Meron ho tayong nung prohibited, iyong galing po sa embryo at saka mga plant products. Meron po tayo nung restricted, galing po yan sa humans pero nagkakaroon ng genetic manipulation at kailangan po, yung mga produktong meron po nyan, kailangan ho iyan ng clearance mula po sa FDA. At yung mga allowed naman po, yung stem cells na galing sa humans, from the individual himself who is to be treated, the patient, or from donors.

She said the public may report to the DOH any violation. Pag meron ho kayong mga nakitang tingin ninyo ay lumalabag, i-report po natin sa DOH kasi pwede po silang ipasara, or pwede pong masuspende iyong lisensiya ng any medical practitioner na nage-engage doon sa mga pinapagbawal po ng Department of Health pagdating po dito sa stem cell treatment. So huwag po tayong magpapaloko. Ang ospital po ang pwedeng may accreditation para mag-facilitate po ng mga stem cell treatments, she said.

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Palace: 'Cure-all' stem cell therapies not true

Probe on stem cell treatments sought

MANILA -- A Visayan lawmaker sought a congressional inquiry Saturday parallel to the investigation conducted by medical groups on the stem cell treatments done in the country.

Malacaang earlier warned the public against stem cell therapy following the recent incident involving a lawmaker who undergone the treatment but has experienced other health problems.

Western Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento sought for the inquiry following the deaths of two lawmakers which are linked to complications brought by the treatment.

The late Bohol Representative Erico Aumentado and Pedro Romualdo of Camiguin supposedly died after undergoing the stem cell treatment overseas

"I will definitely ask for a congressional inquiry, parallel to any other investigations by government agencies and independent medical groups. This concerns public safety. I am also concerned about reports of stem cell treatments being done in the country," Sarmiento said.

It was reported that the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine (PSSCM) is conducting an investigation as to the circumstances of the death of three politicians who went to Germany for the treatment.

Dr. Leo Olarte, PMA's president and PSSCM's spokesperson refused to name the politicians pending the result of the investigation.

The PMA and the PSSCM had also warned Filipinos about the safety of the treatment being done by German doctors in five-star hotels for P1 million using xenogenic or animal-based stem cell therapy.

"This is definitely a very anomalous situation which the DOH (Department of Health) should seriously look into considering the health hazards it could inflict on public safety and health. Congress, in consultation with all concerned government agencies and private entities, should act promptly," Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento said the government should come out with a national policy on the medical issue.

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Probe on stem cell treatments sought

Gov’t to tighten rules on stem cell therapy

By Michael Lim Ubac Philippine Daily Inquirer

Hospitals offering stem cell therapy have until Aug. 31 to seek or renew their accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH), a Palace official said Friday.

For the information of the public, the DOH is accrediting hospitals for this kind of treatment, and come Aug. 31, these hospitals should file their accreditation requirements (with DOH) for them to continue to offer this treatment, said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

The government is eyeing stricter regulation of hospitals offering stem cell therapy amid speculations that the recent deaths of three politicians were due to the xenogenic (animal-based stem cell) treatment they had received in Germany last year.

Dr. Leo Olarte, president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and spokesperson of the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine, said the groups were still trying to determine whether the politicians had died due to their illness or due to hypersensitivity reaction from the xenogenic stem cells.

Last week, the PMA also warned of a possible scam involving German doctors coming over to perform stem cell therapy on patients in five-star hotels at around P1 million per shot.

Valte echoed a similar warning from the DOH against doctors offering the procedure in their clinics, saying that hospitals, not (individual) doctors, nor stand-alone clinics, are the ones being accredited.

Not a cure all

The Palace official also cautioned the public against claims that stem cell therapy was a cure all (for diseases).

There is no treatment that will cure all of your ills. Much less your love problems, Valte said.

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Gov’t to tighten rules on stem cell therapy

Warning vs stem cell treatment

By GENALYN D. KABILING

Dont be fooled by stem cell therapy promising cure-for-all treatment in unauthorized facilities.

Malacaang issued this warning to the public following reports of deaths arising from complications in alleged unsafe stem cell treatment. Dismayed at the false hope given by unscrupulous medical practitioners to patients, Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte reminded the public to instead seek proper treatment in hospitals accredited by the Department of Health (DoH).

According to the DoH, stem cell treatment is geared toward for a certain purpose. Any offer for cure-all treatment is fake. There is no treatment that will cure all of your ills, she said in Filipino during a Palace press briefing.

Valte warned the public against the treatment that uses animal or plant-based stem cells which is prohibited in the country. The autologous treatment, which harvests stem cells from the patients own system, on the other hand, must still have clearance from the Food and Drug Administration.

To protect the lives of Filipino patients, Valte said the health department will soon issue an administrative order imposing tighter regulations on stem cell treatment offered by hospitals.

By August 31, hospitals must file their accreditation requirements so they can continue to offer stem cell treatment, she added.

Let me repeat that the hospitals, not the doctors or the individuals, are the ones accredited. The stand-alone clinics also cannot register with the DoH. Thats our warning to the public, she said. Let us not be fooled. Only hospitals are accredited to facilitate stem cell treatments, she added.

Valte also encouraged the public to report any illegal medical treatment offered by unauthorized individuals or facilities. She said the health department can suspend the license of erring medical practitioners or close down illegal medical centers.

Health authorities have reportedly started a probe into the deaths of three politicians to determine if they died due to illness or complications from animal-based stem cells they had received abroad.

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Warning vs stem cell treatment

Philippine gov’t to tighten rules on stem cell therapy

Manila (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) -

Hospitals offering stem cell therapy have until Aug. 31 to seek or renew their accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH), a Philippine official said Friday.

"For the information of the public, the DOH is accrediting hospitals for this kind of treatment, and come Aug. 31, these hospitals should file their accreditation requirements (with DOH) for them to continue to offer this treatment," said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

The government is eyeing stricter regulation of hospitals offering stem cell therapy amid speculations that the recent deaths of three politicians were due to the xenogenic (animal-based stem cell) treatment they had received in Germany last year.

Dr. Leo Olarte, president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and spokesperson of the Philippine Society for Stem Cell Medicine, said the groups were still trying to determine whether the politicians had died due to their illness or due to hypersensitivity reaction from the xenogenic stem cells.

Last week, the PMA also warned of a possible scam involving German doctors coming over to perform stem cell therapy on patients in five-star hotels at around 1 million pesos (US$23,000) per shot.

Valte echoed a similar warning from the DOH against doctors offering the procedure in their clinics, saying that "hospitals, not (individual) doctors, nor stand-alone clinics, are the ones being accredited."

Not a 'cure all'

The Palace official also cautioned the public against claims that stem cell therapy was a "cure all" (for diseases).

"There is no treatment that will cure all of your ills. Much less your love problems," Valte said.

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Philippine gov't to tighten rules on stem cell therapy

SONA: PMA, nagbabala laban sa iligal na stem cell treatment – Video

SONA: PMA, nagbabala laban sa iligal na stem cell treatment
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SONA: PMA, nagbabala laban sa iligal na stem cell treatment - Video

Doctors probe deaths of 3 Filipinos after stem cell treatment

Leila B. Salaverria and Jocelyn R. Uy

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Publication Date : 25-06-2013

The late Representative Erico Aumentado of the Philippines' Bohol province underwent stem cell therapy in Germany last September and felt like Superman before he died of pneumonia last Christmas at the age of 72, his son told the Inquirer on Monday.

Aris Aumentado, the incoming representative from Bohol, said his father felt better on his return from Germany that he got rid of his cane and wheelchair.

He was like Superman, he told reporters, a day after the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) issued a warning against the so-called xenogenic, or animal-based, stem cell therapy.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. also said on Monday that Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo also underwent stem cell therapy before he died on April 24 at the age of 77, also of pneumonia.

Aris said his father was advised to rest after the German trip, but because he felt so good, he went around campaigning in his district.

He said that before the procedure, his father had already suffered from thrombosis in his leg because his sugar could not be controlled.

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Doctors probe deaths of 3 Filipinos after stem cell treatment

Cancer Treatment Center Of America Opening Stem Cell Center In NE Phila.

file photo (Credit: SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images)

By Lynne Adkins

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A local facility is opening a new unit to help patients with certain types of cancer.

The stem cell transplant center at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Northeast Philadelphia will help patients with such cancers as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Dr. Pamela Crilley, chief of medical oncology, says the 17,000 square foot facility has eight rooms for patients undergoing stem cell transplants and more.

It has a dedicated infusion center for outpatient treatments and it also has a apheresis section where we will collect stem cells. It has cryopreservation laboratory, Dr. Crilley said this unit will allow the center to treat patients locally, instead of sending them to facilities in other parts of the country.

We have five facilities and so they may have been treated in a different facility than our location here, so this is really expanding what can be done at this location.

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Cancer Treatment Center Of America Opening Stem Cell Center In NE Phila.