Characterizing Direct-to-Consumer Stem Cell Businesses in the Southwest United States.

ABSTRACT: There are currently hundreds of businesses across the United States offering direct-to-consumer stem cell treatments that have not been through regulatory approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here, we provide a detailed characterization of nearly 170 stem cell businesses operating in the Southwest United States. We draw specific attention to two as-yet understudied facets of these businesses. First, we identify differences in the degree to which a given business focuses their practice on stem cell treatments. Second, we compare the stated expertise of the care providers in stem cell businesses with the range of conditions they purport to treat. These findings deepen our knowledge of the growing industry around unapproved stem cell treatments, and are used here to offer sugge

SUBMITTER: Frow EK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6700498 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature