Swiss authorities crackdown on illegal injection of fresh cells from sheep placentae

The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) will enhance its efforts to suppress the illegal use of fresh cell therapy in Switzerland, officials told Xinhua on Thursday.

According to Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) spokesman Peter Balzli, the need to "ensure safe and efficient therapeutic practices" is crucial in the use of fresh cell therapy in Switzerland.

"Despite doctors' discontent, we want to ensure that existing regulation and legislation is respected rather than wait until something happens to a patient," said Balzli.

The therapy, which consists of injecting fresh cells, mostly from sheep foetuses or placentae into human muscle, was pioneered by Swiss doctor Paul Niehans in the early 1930s.

Alleged benefits include rejuvenating effects, as well as the alleviation of chronic illnesses such as migraines. It has also been used as an alternative form of cancer treatment.

According to FOPH however, the benefits of fresh cell therapy are scientifically unfounded whereas the associated health risks are well-established and backed by such institutions as the World Health Organization (WHO).

Risks include hypersensitivity reactions, abscess formation and sepsis, infection with animal pathogens and initiation of auto-immune diseases.

In Switzerland, the transplantation of live cells (xenotransplantation) is subject to the Transplantation Act and regulated by the FOPH.

Products that do not contain live cells are classified as medicinal products, and are regulated by the Federal Therapeutic Product Act.

According to Swissmedic, a non-exhaustive list of 35 institutions suspected of using illegal therapies across Switzerland has been drawn-up -- most are located in Canton Vaud.

FOPH spokeswoman Mona Neidhart told Xinhua that "it is also possible that a number of clinics have not been identified, in which case we invite the latter to verify the legality of their therapeutic activities."

This list was concocted after a questionnaire was sent to suspected health-institutions asking the latter to clarify their therapeutic activities.

To date, no therapy-related deaths have been reported in the country, though there have been at least two certified deaths in neighboring Germany.

According to a 1987 medical report, "a 75-year-old woman died 30 days after an intramuscular injection of quick-frozen fresh cells from the effects of an immune-complex vasculitis."

A similar case of a 60-year-old woman dying 14 days after a fresh-cell injection was also reported.

These therapies, offered by private clinics and hospitals, are lucrative and have attracted many health-tourists from China, Russia and the Middle-East.

"Though prices vary, the high-range clinics offer 5-day therapy sessions which can cost up to 80,000 CHF (83,400 U.S. dollars)," said Balzli.

According to Swissmedic's and FOPH's report, 913 visas were granted to Chinese citizens wishing to undertake medical treatment in Switzerland in 2011 alone.

Though the exact number is unknown, up to 80 percent of Chinese health tourists who travel to Switzerland go for cell therapy-linked treatments, according to the report.

Neidhart stated that it is impossible to predict whether the number of Chinese health tourists going to Switzerland for health treatments will decrease as a result of recent crackdowns. Endti