FDA won’t legalize animal stem cells

STEM cell products that have been sourced from animals will not gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Stem cell-based products of animal origin as well as other products classified as restricted are not allowed to be registered or used, said the FDA via Circular 2013-017 released on Wednesday.

The FDA said the order would include the creation, importation, promotion, marketing, and use of animal stem cells.

The circular comes on the heels of the case filed by Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairman Antonio Villar against individuals responsible for performing an illegal stem cell procedure on him and his wife which used sheep stem cells.

Earlier, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) said it was looking into the recent deaths of three politicians, who supposedly traveled to Germany last year to receive animal stem cell treatments.

Aside from animal stem cells, also barred in the country are human embryos for research purposes, human embryonic stem cells and their derivatives, aborted human fetal stem cells and their derivatives, and plant parts labeled as stem cell.

In the same circular, the FDA called on stem cell service providers to start registering their products as required by the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH earlier required registration of stem cell products in a bid to ensure public access to safe and quality stem cell treatments. (HDT/Sunnex)

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FDA won’t legalize animal stem cells