The biotech Mesoblast is starting an expanded access study of its stem cell product for kids with a severe offshoot of COVID-19. The cellular drug in this case is remestemcel-L (more below). While most children fare better than adults in dealing with COVID-19, the rare subset of kids with COVID-19 for this study have more severe […]
New Mesoblast “COVID kid” stem cell study Read More »
Organoid based clinical trials are still rare and a Clinicaltrials.gov search for such organoid work largely brings up in vitro studies. A new clinical study in Japan where organoid material will actually be transplanted into patients is causing a lot of excitement. Organoid clinical trial Masayo Takahashi (高橋 政代) is a pioneer in stem cell-based
Groundbreaking Organoid Vision Clinical Study: Takahashi Q&A Read More »
What is platelet-rich plasma or PRP injection cost and is it worth trying? The goal of today’s post is to fact-check PRP based on the scientific literature and educate readers including on PRP cost. What is in this article PRP is getting more popular | Is it worth it? | What exactly is PRP?
What is PRP injection cost, risks, & possible benefits Read More »
Could stem cells help patients with the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19? It’s hard to say at this point. Is it worth doing trials during the outbreak to find out? Three new clinical studies have popped up on Clinicaltrials.gov investigating the potential of stem cells to help patients infected with the new coronavirus 2019-nCoV. Update, the
COVID-19 stem cell trials pile up during novel coronavirus outbreak Read More »
Today’s post is a review and fact check of stem cell supplements. What I found now in 2024 on stem cell pills and related supplements is concerning. As a stem cell biologist, I see risks here not only of wasting one’s money (no positive effect), but also of doing some harm. In certain cases, stem
Fact-checking stem cell supplements in 2024 Read More »
The stem cell universe is populated by sometimes mysterious acronyms (see an image of a whole alphabet stem cell acronym soup), many of which refer to specific kinds of stem cells including one nebulous type called MUSE cells. I’m not convinced that MUSE cells exist, but oddly there appear to be four clinical trials ongoing
Dubious MUSE cells are in 4 Japanese stem cell trials Read More »
Amongst all that is bouncing around within the stem cell clinic maelstrom out there, one thing stands out for me as the most troubling. I’m talking about for-profit experimentation on children, such as injection of kids with unproven stem cells for autism or cerebral palsy by unproven clinics. In my opinion it’s almost always going
Journal erred on Panama clinic stem cell for autism paper Read More »
A new right-to-try company called Beacon of Hope is stirring some intense discussion. State and federal right-to-try laws could potentially change the fabric of how many investigational studies are conducted. That may happen through firms like Beacon of Hope. However, we don’t know much about the firm. I’m hoping to help change that. Today’s post
Richard Garr Q&A on his new Right-To-Try firm Beacon of Hope Read More »
“HSCT Chicago Clinic Closing!” is the startling header in all caps on a patient-run Facebook page about a stem cell therapy clinical trial program at Northwestern University. What’s going on? Unfortunately, the promising field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases seems to have suffered an unexpected setback
Northwestern abruptly ending Burt HSCT autoimmune trials Read More »
It can be kind of a big deal when politicians, especially at the federal level, write the FDA about stem cells. Is this going to be good news or bad? Some combination? I tend to worry that some senators or representatives might pressure the FDA to weaken oversight. However, lately it seems like the opposite
Congress pushes FDA on stem cell clinic mess in new letter Read More »