It’s been an odd experience having a local stem cell clinic, called Nervana, here in Sacramento to watch in terms of how they handle things such as advertising. I’ve also heard quite a lot from people within our community asking about Nervana.
Now the business is selling non-FDA approved stem cell therapies in San Diego too.
I’ve been concerned this year to see that our local paper The Sacramento Bee (SacBee) keeps running full-page ads (see the latest from this week above) for Nervana because I don’t believe there is a solid, medical or scientific basis for what they are selling. For instance, the notion that stem cells can be used to safely and effectively treat joint problems or neuropathy (things mentioned in ads) is debatable at this time.
Another concern raised within the community is that at least some of the customers of Nervana may have received administrations of stem cell products from a nurse practitioner instead of a physician. I haven’t independently validated that. I’m not quite sure of how that is playing out in this case, but in my opinion only a well-trained physician who is a stem cell expert themself should transplant stem cell products.
The fact that Nervana now is recruiting patients in San Diego (see recent newspaper ad there at right; source California Stem Cell Report) for these non-FDA approved stem cell interventions amplifies concerns over potential risks for patients.
My understanding is that Nervana predominantly sells amniotic stem cell therapies. This raises the interesting question of whether the product in question is in fact stem cells (i.e. living cells) or an extract of amniotic stem cells. A great deal depends on the answer to this question in terms of FDA oversight, but also related to marketing as the ads to my eye suggest living stem cells are used.
I am interested in this stem cell application as I too have been to other siminars, nothing but chiropratic. Since I have proven neuropathy that has caused me to fall 6 times this year alone. Also since the cost factor is considerable, Do you have financing available?
I had stem cell therapy starting in June of 2016. A follow-up plasma, which they call PTP in Dec. of ’16. Now no one answers the phone.
Keith W. Gray
Rio Vista, Ca
Rosemary:
The person you talked to was NOT a representative of the FDA. The FDA considers stem cells to be drugs that must be regulated to ensure the safety of the treatment.
I went to the Nervana seminar and booked a consultation with Nervana. Their staff was amazingly knowledgeable and caring. The NP Robin was great when we met and talked and I decided to go forward with the treatment for my knee. From my research and conversation with an FDA rep, stem cells are not drugs THEREFORE they are not “approved” or “disapproved” what is approved is the donation, testing and processing of the cells. I am one month out from my procedure and am feeling great! Paul, have you gone to a seminar? They are great! Thanks Nervana!
Rosemary,
You talked to an “FDA representative”? Who were they and what did they say exactly?
Did NP Robin do the stem cell treatment or was it a doctor?
Did they explain potential risks to you?
How much did it cost and will you need more treatments at the same price?
It’d be helpful to get answers to these kinds of questions or your comment feels more like an advertisement for Nervana.
Paul
PS Comments are moderated so sometimes do not get approved for hours (or rarely days) so that doesn’t mean they are deleted.
I found the comments about Nervana to be most instructive. My wife has suffered from neuropathy for the past 4 years,with intense continuous pain, and loss ofd mobility in her legs. The discomfort and loss of life quality is leading us to look for alternatives to traditional medication, as those resources are now exhausted and no further path remains after all the multiple specialists we’ve consulted. We too attnded a Nervana seminar, found it to be impressive, but after similar sales pitches from many “clinics” turned into a chiropractic office selling natural herb supplements, I am very skeptical about this miracle cure. Have you found any further data on Nervana. Everything you say so far is accurate,including the staffing of this San Diego office by Robin Jackson.
Dear Rosemarry,
Regarding your comment and the observation made by Paul as living stem cells may have been used in Nervana then as per FDA guidelines it needs to be approved and the only approved stem cell therapy by FDA is hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from cord, I would like to know for what kind of complication in your knee you used this therapy and what is the measurement for your improvement.
This is the future, these scientists can really help people in many ways.
Dear Jeanne,
May you add friend me in Linkedin and facebook..
Thanks a lot.
Dr Harry Prayogo
Indonesia
The definition of a stem cell requires two things: self-renewal and the ability to differentiate into at least 2 adult cell types.
The most important message is that the mesenchymal stem cells, which are different depending on the source, are NOT being used as stem cells by these clinics. They are not expected to differentiate, and they last such a short time in the body that they hardly have time to self renew.
I’m now making clear that my lab is using pluripotent stem cells- specifically induced pluripotent stem cells- to generate specific cell types – in this case neurons that die in Parkinson’s disease. We will NOT transplant undifferentiated stem cells. We will transplant neurons.