Compassionate use of experimental therapies: who should decide?

Abstract In addition to being an example of unsubstantiated hype about regenerative medicine, the controversy around the Italy‐based Stamina Foundation's unproven stem cell therapy represents another chapter in a continuing debate about how to balance patients' requests for early access to...

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Main Author: Patricia J Zettler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2015-07-01
Series:EMBO Molecular Medicine
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201505262
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author Patricia J Zettler
author_facet Patricia J Zettler
author_sort Patricia J Zettler
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In addition to being an example of unsubstantiated hype about regenerative medicine, the controversy around the Italy‐based Stamina Foundation's unproven stem cell therapy represents another chapter in a continuing debate about how to balance patients' requests for early access to experimental medicines with requirements for demonstrating safety and effectiveness. Compassionate use of the Stamina therapy arguably should not have been permitted under Italy's laws, but public pressure was intense and judges ultimately granted access. One lesson from these events is that expert regulatory agencies may be the institutions most competent to make compassionate use decisions and that policies should include more specific criteria for authorizing compassionate use. But even where regulatory agencies make decisions based on clear rules, difficult questions will arise.
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spelling doaj-art-36ce2f65ff474c44b64ece7d4ae8e6e22025-08-20T03:05:55ZengSpringer NatureEMBO Molecular Medicine1757-46761757-46842015-07-017101248125010.15252/emmm.201505262Compassionate use of experimental therapies: who should decide?Patricia J Zettler0Center for Law, Health & Society, Georgia State University College of LawAbstract In addition to being an example of unsubstantiated hype about regenerative medicine, the controversy around the Italy‐based Stamina Foundation's unproven stem cell therapy represents another chapter in a continuing debate about how to balance patients' requests for early access to experimental medicines with requirements for demonstrating safety and effectiveness. Compassionate use of the Stamina therapy arguably should not have been permitted under Italy's laws, but public pressure was intense and judges ultimately granted access. One lesson from these events is that expert regulatory agencies may be the institutions most competent to make compassionate use decisions and that policies should include more specific criteria for authorizing compassionate use. But even where regulatory agencies make decisions based on clear rules, difficult questions will arise.https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201505262
spellingShingle Patricia J Zettler
Compassionate use of experimental therapies: who should decide?
EMBO Molecular Medicine
title Compassionate use of experimental therapies: who should decide?
title_full Compassionate use of experimental therapies: who should decide?
title_fullStr Compassionate use of experimental therapies: who should decide?
title_full_unstemmed Compassionate use of experimental therapies: who should decide?
title_short Compassionate use of experimental therapies: who should decide?
title_sort compassionate use of experimental therapies who should decide
url https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.201505262
work_keys_str_mv AT patriciajzettler compassionateuseofexperimentaltherapieswhoshoulddecide