CLINICS offering stem cell therapy in advanced economies such as Japan and Singapore “engage in murky marketing practices,” according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney. Published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, the study that claims to be the world’s largest-ever on stem cell clinics showed that Ireland, Singapore, Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States have the highest per capita number of clinics engaging in direct-to-consumer marketing of stem cell therapies. It revealed questionable marketing practicing, generally involving making dubious claims of stem cell therapy’s effectiveness from 417 unique websites advertising stem cell-based therapies. However, the research found that stem cell tourism offered online was not predominately being promoted from countries in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe as commonly assumed. The remainder offered embryonic, induced pluripotent, or fetal stem cells (8 percent) or amniotic stem cells (1 percent).

Source: Manila Times August 22, 2016 16:07 UTC