Results for: stem cell treatments
Department of Justice prioritizes prosecution of clinical trial fraud, but systemic reform is needed
The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced it is aggressively pursuing clinical trial fraud, where unethical players create fictional trial participants, steal the drugs under study, and fabricate results. But systemic reform of the clinical drug trial system is needed to halt those who endanger public safety with bogus trials.
The Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study
In this study we have 300 patients with 47 different diseases subject to 7 experimental treatments among 3 treatment groups and no control group. What could possibly go right?
Dubious stem cell trials for autism and the darker side of quackademic medicine
Despite a lack of evidence, Duke University is all-in on stem cells for autism, thanks to a billionaire benefactor and a highly dodgy for-profit Panama stem cell clinic. How did this come to be and what will be the outcome? Whatever the answers to these questions, it is clear that arrangements like the one between Duke University and The Stem Cell Institute...
New Drugs for Sickle Cell Disease: Small Benefit, Large Price
The FDA has approved two new drugs to treat sickle cell disease. They don’t do much, and they are prohibitively expensive.
Naturopaths exploit COVID-19 with unproven treatments and self-promotion
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians endorses unproven IV Vitamin C as a COVID-19 therapy and pushes for inclusion of naturopaths in fighting SARS-CoV-2. Actually, naturopaths should sit this one out and let the doctors and nurses on the front lines have the PPE they are currently wasting administering bogus treatments.
Cardiac Stem Cell Transplant
A new study helps put the state of stem cell research into context.
Cardiac Stem Cell Transplant
Researchers from Osaka University in Japan have announced a success transplant of cardiac stem cells into a patient as part of a clinical trial. While any stem cell advance is potentially exciting, this is also a good opportunity to put this research into perspective. Like any new medical technology, there is a great deal of hype and hope surrounding the potential of...
FDA warns public about exosome treatments
The FDA and Nebraska health authorities issued warnings after patients became seriously ill following treatment with exosomes, an unproven, potentially risky and, per the FDA, illegal product being promoted by dubious stem cell clinics.
Nurse Practitioner Pushes Dubious Aesthetic Treatments
Nurse practitioner aggressively advertises a plethora of aesthetic treatments, some of which are dubious. It's legal, but is it ethical?
For-profit stem cell clinics, universities, and “pay-to-play” clinical trials for autism
Stem cell therapies show great promise, but as yet the vast majority of that promise has not been validated in rigorous clinical trials. Unfortunately, for-profit stem cell clinics are running clinical trials that require patients to pay to be part of it. These trials are not rigorous. Even more unfortunately, it appears that some universities are also running "pay-to-play" clinical trials that...