Regulating autologous stem cell interventions in Australia: updated review of the direct-to-consumer advertising restrictions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Rudge ◽  
Narcyz Ghinea ◽  
Megan Munsie ◽  
Cameron Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Direct To Consumer ◽  
Direct To Consumer Advertising ◽  
Advertising Restrictions

Online Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Stem Cell Therapy for Musculoskeletal Injury and Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew T. Kingery ◽  
Lauren Schoof ◽  
Eric J. Strauss ◽  
Joseph A. Bosco ◽  
Joanne Halbrecht
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Stem Cell Therapy ◽  
Musculoskeletal Injury ◽  
Direct To Consumer ◽  
Direct To Consumer Advertising

scholarly journals Online marketing practices of regenerative medicine clinics in US-Mexico border region: a web surveillance study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Chavez ◽  
Neal A. Shah ◽  
Severin Ruoss ◽  
Raphael E. Cuomo ◽  
Samuel R. Ward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Regenerative Medicine ◽  
Online Marketing ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Border Region ◽  
Stem Cell Tourism ◽  
Direct To Consumer ◽  
Online Presence ◽  
Scientific Legitimacy ◽  
Direct To Consumer Advertising

Abstract Introduction The potential of regenerative medicine to improve human health has led to the rapid expansion of stem cell clinics throughout the world with varying levels of regulation and oversight. This has led to a market ripe for stem cell tourism, with Tijuana, Mexico, as a major destination. In this study, we characterize the online marketing, intervention details, pricing of services, and assess potential safety risks through web surveillance of regenerative medicine clinics marketing services in Tijuana. Methods We conducted structured online search queries from March to April 2019 using 296 search terms in English and Spanish on two search engines (Google and Bing) to identify websites engaged in direct-to-consumer advertising of regenerative medicine services. We performed content analysis to characterize three categories of interest: online presence, tokens of scientific legitimacy, and intervention details. Results Our structured online searches resulted in 110 unique websites located in Tijuana corresponding to 76 confirmed locations. These clinics’ online presence consisted of direct-to-consumer advertising mainly through a dedicated website (94.5%) or Facebook page (65.5%). The vast majority of these websites (99.1%) did not mention any affiliation to an academic institutions or other overt tokens of scientific legitimacy. Most clinics claimed autologous tissue was the source of treatments (67.3%) and generally did not specify route of administration. Additionally, of the Tijuana clinics identified, 13 claimed licensing, though only 1 matched with available licensing information. Conclusions Regenerative medicine clinics in Tijuana have a significant online presence using direct-to-consumer advertising to attract stem-cell tourism clientele in a bustling border region between Mexico and the USA. This study adds to existing literature evidencing the unregulated nature of online stem cell offerings and provides further evidence of the need for regulatory harmonization, particularly to address stem cell services being offered online across borders.

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Stem Cell Clinics

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (19) ◽  
pp. e103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian A. Pean ◽  
Matthew T. Kingery ◽  
Eric Strauss ◽  
Joseph A. Bosco ◽  
Joanne Halbrecht
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Direct To Consumer ◽  
Direct To Consumer Advertising

Dangerous Science: Online Promotion of Unproven Stem Cell Therapies and Global Health Risks

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Ken Mackey ◽  
Bryan A Liang
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Medical Tourism ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Stem Cell Therapies ◽  
Cell Therapies ◽  
New Era ◽  
Direct To Consumer ◽  
Stem Cell Treatment ◽  
Direct To Consumer Advertising

Stem cell-based therapies represent a potential pathway for a new era of 21st century regenerative medicine. In support of this new form of treatment, a global multibillion-dollar research endeavor is currently underway in an effort to establish a scientific evidence base for safe and effective clinical use of stem cells. At present, due to its early stages, only a few stem cell therapies are approved for use. Yet despite very limited evidence-based data, a proliferation of questionable and often illegal stem cell providers around the world are now offering unfettered access to largely experimental stem cell treatment claiming cures for virtually any disease or condition. These stem cell clinics promote their services globally to patients using unregulated Internet and forms of direct-to-consumer advertising. In this paper we examine marketing characteristics of these questionable stem cell clinics and discuss pathways of access through the globalization of medical tourism. We conclude with an examination of the similarities between unproven stem cell therapy access and illicit online pharmacies and explore possible lessons that can be learned to inform future global regulation and policymaking in this arena.

Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Pharmaceuticals: Concepts, Issues, and Research

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence S. Silver ◽  
Robert E. Stevens ◽  
David Loudon
Keyword(s):  
Direct To Consumer ◽  
Direct To Consumer Advertising
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