Category Archives: Stem Cell Therapy

Posted on October 30, 2012, Tuesday

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry did not have plans to introduce a stem cell Act at the moment, said the minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said, the ministrys four guidelines on stem cell research sufficiently served as standards to which practitioners and scientists involved in stem cell research and therapy should adhere to, ensured patients were out of harms way.

The guidelines would provide a framework for researchers, clinicians and companies involved in research, clinical trials and manufacture of stem cells, he noted.

There is no stem cell act in this country. But the guidelines alone are sufficient to provide the grounds and ethical environment to carry out their work, Liow told reporters after launching the 1st National Stem Cell Congress here yesterday.

The four guidelines are National Standards For Haemopoietic Stem Cell Therapy, National Standards For Cord Blood Banking and Transplantation, National Standards For Stem Cell Transplantation and Guidelines On Stem Cell Research and Therapy.

Liow said: Before we came up with the guidelines, we formed a committee to discuss the details of the research. The committee also included Jakim and religious officials for their views.

He said the use of cell-based therapies should be done strictly under clinical trials.

Prior to the clinical trials, there must be sufficient evidence to show safety, quality and efficacy.

Meanwhile, Liow said stem cell therapy in Malaysia was developing well in government, as well as university hospitals, noting that the number of patients receiving bone marrow and stem cell transplantation for leukaemia and solid tumours was on the rise.

Original post:
Liow: No plans for stem cell law at the moment

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 29): The Health Ministry has no intention of introducing a Stem Cell Act as the current guidelines are believed to be sufficient to regulate the research being carried out in this growing field.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said his ministry has taken the lead to regulate this field by producing four guidelines that provide framework for researchers, clinicians and companies involved in research, clinical trials as well as manufacturing of stem cells.

These four guidelines and standards cover haemopoietic stem cell therapy; cord blood banking and transplantation; stem cell transplantation; and stem cell research and therapy.

Liow stressed that these guidelines, which were introduced in December 2006, with a second edition in July 2009, serve as standards to which practitioners and scientists must abide to in order to ensure no harm is done to the patient.

As such, he said there was no need to table a Stem Cell Bill in Parliament to monitor research and transplants in this field.

Liow said the ministry set up a National Sub-Committee for Ethics in Stem Cell Research and Therapy (NSCERT) as an oversight body for all stem cell research in the country, and religious authorities were consulted while drafting the guidelines.

When asked, Liow said that a fatwa was issued by National Fatwa Council to allow researchers to use the excess embryos, produced through IVF, that have been stored by Muslim couples for research.

In addition, all the stem cell therapy must be tested before use on human body.

Liow also gave some statistics on stem cell transplants in the country.

In 2009, a total of 213 haemopoietic stem cell transplants were performed and registered in this country, with 87.7% performed in public or university hospitals. The Ampang Hospital is the largest centre for this type of transplant and currently, there are 11 such centres in Malaysia.

Original post:
'Adequate guidelines for stem cell industry'

KUALA LUMPUR: EXISTING guidelines on stem cell research are sufficient to regulate the industry and the Health Ministry sees no need for a stem cell Act for now.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said guidelines on stem cell research were clear and were drafted with the help of stakeholders, including religious bodies.

He said the ministry had produced four guidelines:

* National Guidelines for Haemopoietic Stem Cell Therapy;

* National Standards for Cord Blood Banking and Transplantation;

* National Standards for Stem Cell Transplantation; and

* Guidelines on Stem Cell Research and Therapy

"We hope researchers follow these guidelines. The ministry does not intend to introduce any Act yet," he said after officiating the First National Stem Cell Congress here yesterday.

Liow said guidelines would be enough to provide a sound and ethical environment for researchers to carry out work. He said the public should also be informed of stem cell services available and be aware that stem cell research here was encouraging.

"In 2009 alone, 213 haemopoitic stem cell transplants were performed and registered in the country," he said.

Read the original post:
No need for stem cell Act, says health minister

MANILA, Philippines Its supposed to cure various illnesses such as cancer, spinal cord injury and Parkinsons disease. Is stem cell therapy the cure-all that it is touted to be?

Health Undersecretary Teodoro Herbosa said it is important to note that stem cell treatments are still at the experimental stage.

"The advisory is very clear. This is still an investigative form of therapy. Anecdotal reports are not enough evidence to say there is treatment, he said in an interview on ANC's Talkback with Tina Palma.

He said there are only two standard stem cell therapies considered effective and acceptable to the medical community.

"To date, I can only name two cases that are considered standard therapy. That is bone marrow transplantation--one for severe cancer, blood cancer and the other one is bone marrow transplantation after chemotherapy for any type of cancer, he said.

Herbosa said the Department of Health cannot confirm yet if stem cell treatment is indeed effective against certain diseases.

Dr. Tranquilino Elicao Jr., an oncologist who availed of the treatment in April in Frankfurt, Germany, said stem cell therapy cured his high blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol and uric acid.

He had 12 injections of cells, which came from lambs.

After a month, I had my blood tests. Everything went down to normal, Elicao said.

Elicao also said he is not taking medication anymore because he has regained his health.

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Stem cell therapy a cure-all? Not so fast