How much does stem cell therapy cost?
Stem cell therapy is gaining popularity due to its remarkable ability to repair damaged tissues and organs and slow the course of chronic diseases. This non-traditional method often reduces the need for complex surgical procedures while improving people’s quality of life. The therapy may also be used to reduce the risk of transplant rejection, which attracts patients who are searching for safe and effective treatments.
These days, stem cell therapy is a major component of medical tourism. Globally, people are willing to travel abroad to receive high-quality care at lower rates or to undergo surgeries that are not offered in their own country. There is legitimate interest in the many factors affecting therapy costs as a result of this pattern.
1. Type of disease
Different diseases require different approaches to therapy. For example, the cost of treating complex neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s can range from $15,000 to $30,000, whereas a single injection to relieve localized discomfort can cost about $3,000. The expense of therapies is increased by the complexity of the procedures and the need for large doses of stem cells.
2. Number of sessions and amount of therapy
To get the desired effects, a patient can require one to six sessions. Each session calls for a certain dosage of cells, the quantity of which is determined by the patient’s health and the degree of organ or tissue damage.
3. Geographical location of the clinic
Because of high operational expenses and taxes, treatment is more expensive in industrialized nations like the USA, UK, or Germany. A single course of therapy, for instance, may cost around $25,000 in the US, but it would only cost about $10,000 in Turkey or India.
4. The experience of the doctors and the reputation of the clinic
Prices are determined by the doctors’ experience and the clinic’s standing as a globally recognized facility that draws top experts. However, the investment in quality is frequently justified since highly skilled specialists provide successful therapy. Advanced technologies and personalized care also contribute to better outcomes, making the higher costs worthwhile.
5. Stem cell type
The type of cells utilized in stem cell treatment can have a significant impact on the cost. Compared to embryonic stem cell (ESC) therapy, which necessitates more complex extraction methods and stricter monitoring, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is less expensive.
6. Regulatory framework
The cost of stem cell therapy may rise in wealthy nations due to strict safety requirements and regulations. Costs might range from $10,000 to $15,000 more in the U.S. or Canada than in clinics in less regulated nations.
Conditions
Factors affecting the cost of stem cell therapy
Factors affecting the cost of stem cell therapy
Factors affecting the cost of stem cell therapy
Factors affecting the cost of stem cell therapy
Factors affecting the cost of stem cell therapy
Questions and answers
Autism spectrum disorder is not a disease, but rather a neurological condition. Consequently, ASD cannot be cured but rather helped with.
According to research and our practice, stem cells can help:
- Contribute to the development of essential skills, such as hygiene and self-care.
- Assist in the development of communication skills, in particular empathy, so that the child can express their feelings and needs more confidently, establish emotional connections, and socialize.
- Reduce or eliminate digestive difficulties, infection susceptibility, and allergies.
- Avoid using painful or potentially harmful methods and procedures.
There are a number of treatments we use: intravenous injections of stem cells, inhalation of exosomes, nasal spray with macrophages, and so on. Each treatment program is tailored specifically to the patient’s needs.
To learn more about patients’ results at our clinic, check out our patients’ reviews on YouTube. For in-depth information about stem cell therapy for autism, read our article.
Dozens of clinical trials conducted by researchers have demonstrated the safety of using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy. We can be certain that stem cells will not in any way harm the patient.
We are sure both of the general safety of stem cells and of the safety of MSC obtained from umbilical cord blood and placentas, which we use in our clinic:
Safety of stem cells in general. MSCs have immunomodulatory properties, which means they can reduce inflammation and inhibit immune reactions that could lead to tissue damage or rejection. They also typically lack MHC Class II molecules, making them less likely to trigger an immune response.
It’s important to notice that although stem cell therapy is considered safe, an overdose can prove quite harmful: the possible consequences include vascular overload, blood clots, and retention in the lungs, which may result in respiratory failure. That is why, for safety reasons, we determine the dose for every patient individually, never exceeding the maximum safe dose.
Safety of the product that we use. MSCs derived from umbilical cords and placentas are harvested in a sterile environment, ensuring there is no risk of contamination. These tissues are usually discarded after childbirth, making the harvesting process ethically straightforward and non-invasive. Before donating the cells, the donors undergo a complete medical examination to ensure their health, lack of infections, and possible aggravating factors.
Before being used in treatments, MSCs undergo a series of rigorous tests to ensure their purity, viability, and sterility. This includes checks for bacterial, fungal, and viral contamination, as well as genetic and molecular testing to confirm their identity and function.
You can learn more about the safety of stem cells in our article.
Usually the results present themselves in 1–3 months after the treatment, with the peak at 6 months and up to 1 year. Sometimes the first signs of improvement can be seen during the course of treatment. It is important to notice that the younger the patient, the better the potential results.
Stem cells can last in a patient’s body for up to 6–8 months. While present in the body, they create a window of opportunity for the child to learn new things and develop skills, such as eye contact, self-care basics, communication skills, and so on.
Whatever the child will be able to learn during that period will stay with them forever, meaning that the improvement will be stable and there will be no regress to the pre-treatment state.
One treatment at the clinic typically lasts from 3 to 9 days. There is typically one injection a day plus a couple of non-invasive procedures, like inhalations.
If the results are satisfactory, you can come again and repeat the treatment to maximize the improvements. We usually recommend that patients come to the next treatment no sooner than 6 months after the previous one.
We use cord blood and placental stem cells, which are administered by intravenous and intramuscular injections. To ensure patient comfort, we use mild sedation when necessary. Our treatment also includes exosome inhalation.
7. Is it a 100% cure?
Although 80% of our patients report improvements, stem cell therapy is not a magic pill. The autism spectrum disorder is not a disease per se and has no known cure. But the possible improvements are nothing to dismiss:
- better eye contact;
- better communication, both verbal and non-verbal;
- better contact with parents, peers, and other people;
- better hygiene skills;
- enhanced focus;
- diminished aggression and autoaggression;
- better appetite and fewer gastrointestinal problems.
The individual results vary depending on the age, severity of the condition, and other factors.
The side effects are only temporary and may occur directly after the procedure: basically, a slight increase in temperature over the course of several hours, nausea, or general malaise—and even those side effects only happen in 5% of cases.
There are no lasting side effects.
Technically, yes, but we generally advise against it.
Firstly, donor cells take about a month to be cultivated, which would mean you’d have to come to the clinic twice: first for harvesting the cells, and then for an actual treatment for the child. Secondly, the ASD can sometimes be genetic, which means that the parent’s stem cells might not be as effective in treating autism in the child as the donor cells with no ASD history in the family. And last, compared to donor stem cells from the placenta or umbilical cord, adult donor’s cells are typically fewer in number and less active.
For these reasons, we generally recommend using cells from a donor who is not a patient’s parent, with all the necessary safety checks and precautions. However, you can always discuss this issue with your consulting doctor and reach a final decision together.
