HELPING NO-OPTION PATIENTS FIND A VOICE THROUGH STEM CELL LEGISLATION

Stuart SchlossmanStem Cell Related

                                                                  


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 Jennifer Ziegler, Tracy Thompson and SammyJo Wilkinson  May 17, 2016 

Many patients with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cardiac issues, lung conditions, diabetes and arthritis, among other conditions, have limited treatment options. Typically, they employ underperforming, approved treatment options for their chronic disease or condition, if treatment is available at all. Many patients have tried all approved medical interventions without adequate success and continue to suffer. The lack of success leaves patients feeling hopeless and confused about what to do next. Patients For Stem Cells (PFSC) provides hope and a voice for those that feel they have no voice, no options and no way to regain their quality of life.
A question we get asked all the time is, “Why would regenerative, adult stem cell therapy not be allowed in the U.S.?” In our opinion, the answer boils down to two factors. First, adult stem cells will compete with highly profitable, multi-billion- dollar pharmaceutical interests. Second, the patent landscape around adult stem cells is cloudy, and no one is particularly interested in spending in excess of $1 billion to get a cell drug approved with no patent protection. In our opinion, academia and industry with vested interests in ethically controversial embryonic cells actively attack and discount the efficacy of adult stem cells due to their conflicts of interest—fearing the loss of research grants and patent royalties.

Why do adult stem cells make economic sense? The average care for a chronically ill patient can cost well in excess of $100,000 annually. Many conditions can be treated with stem cells for $20,000 a year, and in some cases, the results can last for years. For orthopedic conditions, like osteoarthritis of the knee, a simple stem cell shot costing under $5,000 can regrow cartilage and prevent, or postpone, the need for knee replacement surgery or knee orthoscopic knee surgery, which can cost up to $50,000 and $30,000, respectively.
Once cellular therapy becomes part of mainstream medicine, these cost savings will help salvage the Medicare budget. Congress is now becoming aware of the benefits in saving and improving lives, with potentially enormous cost savings. In 2016, Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) introduced legislation to make cellular therapy a reality. A reality that will save billions of dollars in the approval process for a stem cell treatment to make it to market and cut the time in half.

A number of our physicians also support adult stem cell therapy being made available to all who need it in the U.S. One of those physicians is Dr. Stanley Jones, Chief Medical Officer of Celltex Therapeutics in Houston, Texas. Dr. Jones, a stem cell patient himself says:


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