Stem cell ‘therapies’ cannot be offered as a clinical service for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), outside of an approved and monitored clinical trial or research setting, the Supreme Court held in a judgment on Friday (January 30, 2026). The court directed the government to constitute a dedicated authority for regulatory oversight over stem cell research across the country. The court clarified that parents, guardians, and caregivers cannot demand that stem-cell therapy be administered as a clinical service. The petitioners argued that though stem cell therapy itself is in an experimental stage, it was being touted as a ‘treatment’ and ‘cure’ for ASD. They noted that people diagnosed with ASD and their caregivers unsuspectingly place their implicit faith in establishments offering stem cell therapy in the hope of a “miraculous cure”.

Source: The Hindu January 30, 2026 17:25 UTC