American Doctors Form Group to Oppose FDA's Stance On Adult Stem Cells

The American Stem Cell Therapy Association has been formed in response to the FDA's position that a patient's own Adult Stem Cells are drugs. The group has been formed by US doctors who believe that standards and regulations should be applied by responsible doctors rather than the FDA. The goal of this group is to bring the use of a patient's own stem cells (proven safe in hundreds of studies) to the United States sooner rather than later.

This is a wonderful development especially for American patients who have no cure or treatment for their conditions other than drugs which only treat the symptoms and often have bad side effects. Congestive Heart Failure is a good example of this. About 50% of heart failure patients die within 5 years of being diagnosed with congestive heart failure.

These heart failure patients don't have the time to wait for all the US clinical trials to be completed which is why so many Americans must go abroad for stem cell treatment. Not only congestive heart failure patients, there are more than 73 other diseases that can be improved through the use of a person's own stem cells.

So while some are urging us to be "advocates of patience" and wait for clinical trials for each disease and condition to run its course, there are thousands of dying patients right now who don't have time to be "patient" for what has been proven safe in hundreds of studies- the use of one's own stem cells.

Dr. Zannos Grekos of Regenocyte, a user of VesCell stem cell therapy is a prominent member of this new organization.

From the article:

"Many patients are dying or suffering daily with incurable diseases or problems that require major surgery. These patients should have access to basic adult stem cell therapy now." stated Christopher J. Centeno, M.D, an ASCTA physician member. "ASCTA is establishing guidelines which will allow the safe use of the patient's own adult stem cells under the supervision of doctors." continued Centeno.

These doctors are not saying that should be no regulations. However, they do want to take it out of the hands of the FDA who Don Margolis says treat Adult Stem Cells like Viagra.

300,000 Americans die each year of congestive heart failure. If all 300,000 were treated with their own stem cells- that number would be cut significantly. And that is just for heart failure- diabetes, spinal cord injury, crohn's disease, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease are just a few conditions which Adult stem cells will help.

If you want to become part of this movement, you can join for FREE- just go fill out the contact information at the Stem Cell Docs website

Thanks to Don Margolis' Adult Stem Cell Research blog for the tip on the story.

Schwarzenegger Stops Stem Cell Bill Aimed At Helping The Public!

Much ado in California this past week where the State Assembly of California and the State Senate passed Bill SB1565 which would guarantee "uninsured Californians access to any drug that is, in whole or in part, the result of research funded by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)".

In other words, this bill would have guaranteed that Californians would get a return(in the form of a cure(s) to a disease) on the taxes they are paying to fund the CIRM. Although I said the bill was passed by the Assembly and Senate, it was all for naught as Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill calling into question his health policy.

Let me take you back a few years to explain. In 2004, embroiled in controversy and hobbled by a lack of promise in their work, embryonic stem cell researchers/companies were starving for funds either private or federal. Enter another option- State Government funding- Billed as a "Cures for California" act, Californians passed Proposition 71, which established the CIRM at a cost of $3-6 Billion.

Since then, the CIRM has been mired in many controversies on where the money has been distributed and is deathly quiet on the issue of when it is going to produce any cure.

In Schwarzenegger's veto message he stated:

"More than seven million voters were very clear when they passed Proposition 71 in 2004. They wanted to fund embryonic stem cell research that the federal government wouldn’t. They also wanted to make sure that California receives a return for its historic investment in medical research. Both of those important goals are already being accomplished.

"This bill does nothing to advance the will of over seven million voters. For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill."

California is already receiving a return on their historic investment?

Well, even the staunchest supporter of the CIRM would be hard pressed to come up with any successful results- I tried Google and the most I could come up with was a few semi famous scientists have migrated to California to live off the tax payer.

In closing, I'd like to stay away from any Terminator quotes from Arnold or quotes from any of his movies to get a cheap laugh as I am a mature adult and consider myself above that nonsense. I just want to say to Arnold and the CIRM " SHOW ME THE MONEY!"