WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire -03/05/12)- The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine issued the following statement today: "An article about stem cell treatments taking place in Texas published by Nature last week is extremely troubling. The article suggests that patients are being administered stem cell treatments that have not been systematically demonstrated to be safe and effective therapies through the established FDA regulatory process.

"Cell therapy treatments, including those using adult stem cells, hold the promise of providing patients with treatments and cures for numerous diseases and disabilities. However, FDA regulation is key to ensuring that the treatments available to patients are safe and effective.

"The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM), a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote increased funding and development of regenerative medicine products, believes cell therapy and regenerative medicine products, including autologous cell therapy products, must go through the rigorous safety testing that is part of the FDA regulatory process before they can be marketed to the public. These regulations are designed to promote safe collection, manufacture, storage, and use of human cells, and cellular and tissue based products. ARM members comply with these rules because they know that FDA oversight helps to prevent patients from exposure to potentially unsafe products.

"We urge all companies developing stem cell treatments to follow FDA rules governing research and product development. ARM remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that safe and effective products reach patients as soon as possible."

About The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) is a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization that promotes legislative, regulatory, reimbursement, and financing initiatives necessary to facilitate access to life-giving advances in regenerative medicine. ARM also works to increase public understanding of the field and its potential to transform human healthcare, and provides services to support the growth of its member companies and organizations. To learn more about ARM or to become a member, visit http://www.alliancerm.org.

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The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine Statement on Use of Cell Therapies Not Approved by the Federal Drug ...