Desperate parents in the United States are paying up to $20,000 per session for stem cell injections for their autistic children, despite a lack of scientific evidence and warnings from regulators. The unapproved treatments, which involve injecting children as young as 18 months with stem cells derived from umbilical cords, are being promoted by clinics in Florida, Texas and other states.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has directly cautioned parents that such treatments offered outside approved clinical trials are likely illegal and deceptive. A placebo-controlled trial by Duke University found no significant benefits for most of the 180 children tested. The FDA has also warned of complications including blindness, tumour formation and infections.
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has actively encouraged these therapies, appearing at summits organised by Autism Health, a leading advocate of stem cell infusions. At a summit in April, Kennedy promised to work with providers to 'drive solutions together'. He also appointed summit organiser Tracy Slepcevic to the Autism Coordinating Committee, which guides federally funded autism research.
Some providers are using even more controversial methods. Mike Chan, a Malaysian physician, presented a protocol involving injections of stem cells from slaughtered sheep and rabbits. Kennedy has cut $31m in autism-related research and reduced recommended childhood vaccinations, while backing alternative therapies.
Slepcevic has announced a new experiment injecting 120 autistic children with umbilical cord stem cells, to begin next month in Tijuana, Mexico, where regulation is looser. The Guardian approached Slepcevic for comment but received no response.
