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Acop grills FDA over spread of 'stem cell capsules'

Philippines | National

Acop grills FDA over spread of 'stem cell capsules'

By Manila Bulletin

At A Glance

Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop has confronted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the proliferation of capsules claiming to be an alternative to stem cell therapy.

Antipolo City 2nd Rep. Romeo Acop (PPAB)

Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop has confronted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the proliferation of capsules claiming to be an alternative to stem cell therapy.

The veteran lawmaker raised this concern on Monday, Dec. 4, during a Committee on Health hearing on the proposed intensification of stem cell research and therapy in the Philippines.

“Maraming tao ang naloloko rito (Many people are deceived by this), especially those people who cannot afford the medical procedure,” said Acop.

“On the ground, makikita mo, yung mga mahihirap yun yung bumibili (You can see, indigent people are the ones who buy) and nothing is being done by the government agency that is supposed to control this,” he told FDA officials.

Stem cell therapy is a sought-after medical procedure for treating numerous medical conditions and even rejuvenation. This supposedly helps patients achieve a more “youthful” look.

According to the FDA, the only accepted stem cell therapy methods in the Philippines are hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, corneal resurfacing with limbal stem cells, and skin regeneration with epidermal stem cells.

FDA Center for Drug Regulation and Research Director Jesusa Cirunay clarified that there is no stem cell capsule registered under the agency.

Cirunay said companies that will manufacture products with such misleading claims will face regulatory action.

The FDA has released several public health warning advisories to stop the further spread of these illegal medicines. --Dexter Barro II

Related Tags

Stem Cell Research Romeo Acop

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