Meredith Rogers, MS, CMPP, reviews the advances in stem cell therapies in veterinary medicine. She notes that clinical trials are few and most evidence of efficacy comes from anecdotal reports. Rogers says the biggest obstacles preventing more frequent use of stem cell therapy are access and cost. Beyond this, no guidelines currently exist with respect to stem cell therapy, though other resources can aid in making treatment decisions.
Source: American Veterinarian, February 15, 2018.
Regarding resources, Rogers shares the following:
- The North American Veterinary Regenerative Medicine Association was founded as a clearinghouse of related information.
- The AVMA issued a position statement that encourages the study of stem cell therapy but cautions its use in routine clinical practice.
- The FDA recently published its final “Guidance for Industry,” which states that “a cell-based product, including an animal stem cell-based product, that is intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease in animals, or is intended to affect the structure or function of the animal, generally meets the definition of a new animal drug.”
- This recommendation should promote additional research to meet regulatory obligations, providing the evidence needed to validate or dispute widespread use of stem cell therapy.