Worries over consumer gene tests

purposes. Representatives of that company pointed out that their cells are not guaranteed to be free from bacterial and viral infections to the standards that would be required for medical use. The BBC program also alleges that Advanced Cell Therapeutics tried to obscure the origin of the cells by storing them in the UK, using the services of companies that were led to believe that these cells were for research purposes only. Following the revelations, however, this route is likely to be blocked, as the medical use of such cells would be illegal in the UK and even their handling and storage for other purposes than research might violate the Human Tissues Act drawn up in response to the organ retention scandals (Curr. Biol. 14, R254). " It is important not to judge the potential future benefits of stem cell biology from the actions of those who have shown such flagrant disregard for the lives of their patients. " In a global market, however, people will continue to find ways of offering dubious medicine, using internet marketing and legal loopholes in countries around the world. Advanced Cell Therapeutics, for example, has been carrying out its treatments in Ireland until recently, and, when the authorities stepped in, there were press reports suggesting that the company offered the treatment on board a ferry, in international waters instead. Similarly, the company Medra, based in Malibu, California, offers injections of " human fetal stem cells " to treat diseases ranging from Alzheimer's through to ulcerative colitis, to be carried out in the Dominican Republic. The company's fact sheet guards tactful silence on the origin of these cells. Fairchild concludes: " While the practice of companies such as Advanced Cell Therapeutics and Medra is truly shocking, it is important not to judge the potential future benefits of stem cell biology from the actions of those who have shown such flagrant disregard for the lives of their patients. " So, is there any real hope for patients with chronic disease to benefit from stem cell therapies in the near future? Most treatment options that are being investigated in the lab right now will need many years before they might reach the patient. However, there is some more promising, if cautious, news on stem cells. The company Geron, based at Menlo Park, California, is testing a range of stem cell treatments in preclinical trials, and is expecting …