Government to crack down on stem cell therapies

REGULATIONS governing the use of controversial stem cell therapies will be introduced within a matter of months, Finance Minister Brian Cowen said last night.

He was responding to revelations in yesterday’s Irish Examiner that multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers were paying up to €18,500 for the unlicensed treatment in Cork.

Up to 6,000 Irish people suffer from MS. Stem cell therapy involves the introduction of healthy new stem cells to repair and replace the damaged or lost cells. It is unlicensed in this country for use among MS sufferers.