News

Stem Cell therapies show enormous promise for the treatment of a range of diseases in the future, and there is no doubt that cord blood is an ideal source of those stem cells.

However, such therapies, as with all medical advances, need to be investigated thoroughly and under strict scientific and ethical controls and guidelines. One of the biggest dangers in the field is that unscrupulous practitioners will take advantage of vulnerable patients, and offer "stem cell therapies" that are unproven, using "stem cells" from undefined sources that have not been characterized or proven to be safe. Recent reports highlight the dangers of such "unregulated stem cell therapies", with the danger of significant side effects in addition to the substantial costs involved.

Australia leads the world in the regulatory environment for new medical advances. The cornerstones of this approach are:

• High quality of therapeutic agents; and
• Proven efficacy OR controlled trials to demonstrate efficacy

In line with this philosophy, Australian Stem Cell HealthCare (ASCH) is working with leading academic and clinical bodies in Australia to develop clinical trials to explore the use of cord blood in a range of diseases, and ASCH will continue to endeavor to be at the forefront of the latest developments in stem cell technologies. However, this desire to explore the therapeutic potential of stem cells, and of cord blood in particular, should never be at the expense of scientific rigor, and should not prey upon the vulnerabilities of sick patients.

Over coming months, we will be preparing ethical protocols and announcing proposals for world-first clinical intervention trials in major diseases using cord blood. These trials will be undertaken only after full ethical review and under strict scientific and regulatory control. Only by doing so can the full potential of cord blood cells be fully measured and understood, so that in the future all patients will be able to receive cord blood therapies that are proven and reliable.

Although we strongly believe in the ultimate potential of stem cell therapies, and of cord blood in particular, stem cells are not a "silver bullet" that can cure any and all diseases. We do not recommend that patients seek "miracle cures" from unregulated overseas clinics, whose activities can only serve to undermine those who seek to advance the cause of stem cell therapeutics within ethical and appropriately regulated frameworks.

 For more information about current clinical trials using cord blood, we recommend that you visit the USA Parents Guide to Cord Blood Foundations website below.

By clicking the link below you will be leaving the ASCH website. Please note:

• The information provided on external sites may not comply with Australian regulations.
• Stem cell treatments, clinical trials and laboratory studies which may be referred to in these external sites may not be approved for use in Australia. Such treatments are not generally available in Australia and may never be approved for use by the relevant regulatory authorities in Australia. 

  http://parentsguidecordblood.org/content/usa/medical/autocbt.shtml

Peter Littlewood
CEO