Clinics that sell stem cell and exosome treatments have turned their attention to long COVID patients, researchers found.
Among 38 businesses selling such treatments for COVID-19, the majority (36) marketed those therapies for long COVID, stated Leigh Turner, PhD, of the University of California Irvine, and colleagues in Stem Cell Reports.
"We didn't think the pattern was going to emerge as strongly as it did," Turner told MedPage Today.
Turner and his team have tracked stem cell clinics for years, building a database of clinics that operate in this arena. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they logged how these businesses were taking advantage of patients' fears by selling purported treatments for COVID.
They revisited some of those businesses last fall to see whether anything had changed as the pandemic shifted -- and lo and behold, it had.
"The pandemic has changed over time, and now there's a whole population of individuals who have had COVID-19, and they haven't completely recovered," Turner said. "They have lingering symptoms that are sometimes quite serious, sometimes life-altering" -- and that can make people desperate to find treatments, he added.
"We have a population of patients who are looking for symptomatic relief," Turner continued. "While we have long COVID clinics, people may not have an easy time getting access to them. There are long waits. And the interventions themselves may be rather limited in their effects."
That has left the door wide open for stem cell marketers to try to reach these people, Turner said.
For their study, the researchers used three strategies to find stem cell and exosome clinics marketing to COVID patients online. They looked at an earlier database of 1,480 stem cell or exosome businesses in the U.S., searched Google for additional companies both in the U.S. and abroad, and looked at businesses mentioned in Turner's 2021 Cell Stem Cell paper on companies selling stem cell treatments for COVID.
They revisited and re-analyzed all company websites in September 2022, with a final fact-check in October 2022.
Overall, they found 38 businesses that were advertising stem cell and exosome treatments for COVID, which were connected to 60 clinics.
Most of them were specifically marketing these therapies to patients with long COVID, while six businesses marketed their therapies as "immune boosters," five claimed to treat acute COVID infection, and two claimed their products could prevent COVID.
The vast majority of these businesses were based in the U.S. (40%) and Mexico (37%), while four were in Ukraine, two were in the Cayman Islands, and other countries appeared to have one business each: Guatemala, Malaysia, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.
Turner and colleagues found that these products weren't cheap. Among the nine businesses that provided information on how much they charged, the least expensive product was $2,950, while the most expensive product cost $25,000. The average listed cost was $11,322, they found.
Turner said there are "plenty of things that can go wrong" when it comes to purported stem cell treatments for long COVID. These treatments are investigational and don't have scientific evidence behind them proving their success for the condition, he said.
A patient's "situation can be made dramatically worse if they're given an infusion of a product that hasn't been carefully studied or tested," Turner told MedPage Today. "There's a real possibility for serious injury in that situation, whether it's pulmonary embolism, an infection, or something else."
Indeed, many examples of stem cell treatments causing infections and other problems have been reported. The hit podcast "Bad Batch" examined an instance in which 12 people were hospitalized after getting contaminated stem cell injections. Nebraska health officials reported an outbreak of severe infections after exosome therapies. And researchers reported on three patients who had severe vision loss after intravitreal injections of autologous adipose tissue-derived stem cells.
There's also "an obvious possibility for financial scams," Turner said. "At an average price of $11,000, it's not like going to the store and buying some dietary supplements."
Turner said regulators should get tougher on companies peddling stem cell and exosome treatments for long COVID.
"I think it's a modest number," he said, referring to the 36 businesses his team discovered. "This seems like activity that probably deserves to be prioritized and seems like the kind of challenge the FDA and FTC [Federal Trade Commission] could actually do something about in a comprehensive way."
The FDA and FTC have pursued stem cell companies in the past, with both regulators issuing warning letters to such companies. One healthcare professional was even sentenced to jail time for selling a fake stem cell therapy.
Still, many businesses have avoided attracting regulators' attention, Turner said: "There's a lot the FDA has done, but there's still a massive marketplace."
The study was limited because it likely identified only some companies operating in this space. Also, the researchers searched only in English, and searches in other languages may reveal additional companies. In addition, businesses may have used other forms of advertising -- including billboards, newspaper or magazine ads, and radio or TV commercials -- to reach their potential customers.
"It is understandable that individuals seeking relief from shortness of breath, fatigue, 'brain fog,' heart palpitations, loss of smell, and other symptoms search for interventions that might help them," Turner and colleagues wrote. "Acknowledging the suffering and agency of such persons, members of this patient population are vulnerable to having their suffering, desperation, and hope exploited by entities making appealing therapeutic claims without having the scientific evidence needed to make such representations."
Kristina Fiore leads MedPages enterprise & investigative reporting team. Shes been a medical journalist for more than a decade and her work has been recognized by Barlett & Steele, AHCJ, SABEW, and others. Send story tips to k.fiore@medpagetoday.com. Follow
Disclosures
The project is supported by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Turner disclosed serving as an expert witness in cases regarding unapproved stem cell treatments, as well as relationships with the International Society for Stem Cell Research and the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy.
Primary Source
Stem Cell Reports
Source Reference: Turner L, et al "Businesses marketing purported stem cell treatments and exosome therapies for COVID-19: An analysis of direct-to-consumer online advertising claims" Stem Cell Rep 2023; DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.09.015.
Visit link:
Companies Market Stem Cell Treatments to Long COVID Patients - Medpage Today
- Congress Gives Stem Cells Another Shot -ASK THE EXPERT- ... [Last Updated On: August 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 4th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Game 3- Grow with the Flow [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2011]
- PROSTATE CANCER and stem cells [Last Updated On: August 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 13th, 2011]
- Preview: 21st Century Snake Oil [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2011]
- Stem cells: the future of medicine? [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Stem Cells: Politics vs. Medicine [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine: Of Hopes and Challenges [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2011]
- An amazing story of stem cells, regenerative medicine and healing power: [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2011]
- Preserving Stem Cells: Regenerative Medicine [Last Updated On: September 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 9th, 2011]
- TEDxPhoenix - Jane Maienschein - Stem Cells, Regenerative Medicine and Us [Last Updated On: September 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 11th, 2011]
- Personalized Medicine: Stem Cells 1/2 [Last Updated On: September 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 14th, 2011]
- A Century of Stem Cells - Johns Hopkins Medicine [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2011]
- What are stem cells? How can they be used for medical benefit? [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2011]
- STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE Official Announcement [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2011]
- Turning Adult Stem Cells into Medicine - Zannos Grekos, MD [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2011]
- A New Era in Regenerative Medicine [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2011]
- Bruce Conklin: Drug screening with stem cells [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- Professors Chandran and ffrench-constant - Are stem cells the future of regenerative medicine? [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2011]
- Hormone Myths vs. Medical Literature and How to Grow Your Own Stem Cells - Ronald Rothenberg, MD [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2011]
- Cardiovascular Derivatives of Embryonic Stem Cells in Cardiac Repair and Drug Discovery [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Jackson Laboratory symposium: What's vital for effective stem cell therapies? [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2011]
- Alzheimer's Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Rod Shankle [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2011]
- "StemEnhance" the Biggest Scientific [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Stem cell medical breakthrough? [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- The Future of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Clinical Trials : University of Miami Miller School of Medicine [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Medical tourism in Croatia - Regenerative medicine-Stem cells in reconstructive surgery [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Bioethics Stem Cells and the New Biology [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Stem Cells: The Hope The Hype and the Science [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Skin Stem Cells: Their Biology [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Spotlight on Cancer Stem Cell Research [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS): UCSD Team's Stem Cell Therapy Rationale [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Sickle Cell Anemia: Stem Cell Gene Therapy - Donald Kohn [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Stem Cells and Parkinson's Disease [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research: Macular Degeneration [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- An amazing story of stem cells and regenerative medicine [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Stem Cell City - Lisa Ray [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Therapy: Healing Force of the future [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cells in Drug Discovery and Therapeutics [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Medical Breakthrough: First Stem Cell Procedure [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Dr. Judith Oppenheim, Chicago on Dental Stem Cells on WGN-TV's Medical Watch. [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2011]
- Jerome Zack: Creating iPS Cells - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Sight for sore eyes - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Regenerative Medicine Update: Stem Cells and Functional Testing - Mitchell J. Ghen, DO, PhD - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Stem cells as the future of medicine - Video [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2011]
- Neural Stem Cells Reverse Alzheimer's-Like Symptoms - Video [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- Deafness: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Ebenezer Yamoah - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- Leukemia: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Patient Stories - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- Epidermolysis Bullosa: Corrected iPS Stem Cell-Based Therapy - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- iPS Stem Cell-Based Treatment of Epidermolysis Bullosa - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease: Spotlight on Stem Cell Research - Arnold Kriegstein - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- Closing Remarks, Screening Stem Cells 2009: From Reprogramming to Regenerative Medicine - Video [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2011]
- The Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Regenerative Medicine Center at UCI - Video [Last Updated On: October 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 26th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Institute - Video [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2011]
- StemCellTV Special Report - Stem Cell Therapy a "Medical Game Changer" - Video [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2011]
- Adult Stem Cells and Regeneration - Video [Last Updated On: November 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2011]
- Cloned Embryonic Stem Cells, FIRST (Brainstorm Ep26) - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2011]
- Beating Heart Stem Cells - Video [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Research In Toronto - Video [Last Updated On: November 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2011]
- Stem Cells and Their Amazing Potential 2011 trailer - Video [Last Updated On: November 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: November 15th, 2011]
- Stemcell Research and Aging - Panel 1 - Video [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2011]
- Austin Forum - Nov 1st (Part 4 of 4) - Video [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2011]
- Vet-Stem Medistem Cellmedicine Rheumatoid Arthritis Stem Cell Video - Video [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2011]
- Stem Cell Clinical Trial for Heart Failure: Eduardo Marban - CIRM Spotlight on Disease - Video [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2011]
- Stem Cell-Derived Heart Cells: Bruce Conklin - CIRM Science Writer's Seminar - Video [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2012]
- Pope gives support to adult stem cells and asks for ethics in scientific research - Video [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2012]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis - Darnell Morris - Video [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2012]
- Personalized Medicine: Stem Cells 2/2 - Video [Last Updated On: January 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 13th, 2012]
- Utilizing Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes for Early Safety Screening - Webinar Presentation - Video [Last Updated On: January 22nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: January 22nd, 2012]
- Stem Cell Stage Bypassed in Skin Cell to Brain Cell Transformation [Last Updated On: February 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 1st, 2012]
- Encouraging Results with Stem Cell Transplant for Brain Injury [Last Updated On: February 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 1st, 2012]
- Stem cell injection successfully treats urinary incontinence [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2012]
- ImmunoCellular Therapeutics To Present at Targeting Stem Cells Symposium during 19th Annual Molecular Medicine Tri ... [Last Updated On: February 17th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 17th, 2012]
- Adult Stem Cell Success Stories - Barry Goudy - Video [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2012]
- Stem Cell Treatment for T-6 Spinal Cord Injury - Video [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2012]
- Stem Cells China-Switzerland.wmv - Video [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2012]
- Stem cell find offers hope for infertility [Last Updated On: February 27th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 27th, 2012]
- Stem cell fertility treatments could be risky for older women [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2012] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2012]
- A*STAR Scientists Make Groundbreaking Discovery on Stem Cell Regulation [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2012]
- UGA study reveals basic molecular 'wiring' of stem cells [Last Updated On: March 1st, 2012] [Originally Added On: March 1st, 2012]