Stem Cell Clinics Online: The Direct-to-Consumer Portrayal of Stem Cell Medicine

Abstract

Despite the immature state of stem cell medicine, patients are seeking and accessing putative stem cell therapies in an "early market" in which direct-to-consumer advertising via the internet likely plays an important role. We analyzed stem cell clinic websites and appraised the relevant published clinical evidence of stem cell therapies to address three questions about the direct-to-consumer portrayal of stem cell medicine in this early market: What sorts of therapies are being offered? How are they portrayed? Is there clinical evidence to support the use of these therapies? We found that the portrayal of stem cell medicine on provider websites is optimistic and unsubstantiated by peer-reviewed literature.

Stem Cell Therapy on the Internet: Information Quality and Content Analysis of English Language Web Pages Returned by Google

“…Despite these regulations, authorities are increasingly concerned about the rise in availability of SC therapies outside the approved indications or regulated clinical trials, with the potential to harm patients (Lau et al, 2008;Turner and Knoepfler, 2016).…”

Governing new global health-care markets: the case of stem cell treatments

“…Suppliers see no reason for denting consumer expectations and demand is enhanced by their provision of consumer information, which, like the information from stem cell science itself, is unremittingly positive, claiming that the therapies offered provide a safe and efficient treatment for diseases that orthodox Western medicine regards as incurable or difficult to treat (Sipp 2011). In this sense, consumer information from suppliers continues to be asymmetric, reinforcing the promises of stem cell science (Lau et al 2008).…”

Cell-based therapy – navigating troubled waters

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7] In 2008, the International Society for Stem Cell Research published Guidelines for the Clinical Translation of Stem Cells (available at http://www.isscr.org/clinical_trans), which 'provides a framework for the responsible and timely development of clinically useful stem-cell-based therapies'. 8 Furthermore, several papers published in Nature Reports Stem Cells severely criticised the growing commercial exploitation of patients through the use of untested and unproven so-called 'stem cell therapies'.…”