Italy’s Health Minister has ruled that there will be no human clinical trial for the Stamina stem cell treatment.

After consulting a panel of experts, Italy’s Health Minister has ruled that there will be no human clinical trial for a stem cell treatment praised by scores of patients but denounced by scientists as dangerous. Earlier in the year the government had bowed to patient pressure and awarded a €3 million grant to the non-profit Stamina foundation. But stiffened in its resolve by criticism from scientists around the world, it reversed its decision.

According to Science Insider the health ministry says that the documentation for the stem cell treatment is inadequate and the method unsafe.

The CEO of Stamina Davide Vannoni, told ScienceInsider that “the reasons for rejection are totally unfounded.”

However, the book has not been closed on Stamina’s work with stem cells. While it will not be allowed to conduct a clinical trial, dozens of patients are currently being treated and one hundred are on a waiting list to receive treatment at a hospital in Brescia. Vannoni says that an unnamed African country will allow Stamina to conduct a trial and that his scientists are preparing a publication for a peer-reviewed journal. 

Michael Cook
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