Leigh Turner, Juan Ramon Martinez, Shemms Najjar, Thevin Rajapaksha Arachchilage, Victoria Sahrai, Jia Chieng Wang
{"title":"Safety and efficacy claims made by US businesses marketing purported stem cell treatments and exosome therapies.","authors":"Leigh Turner, Juan Ramon Martinez, Shemms Najjar, Thevin Rajapaksha Arachchilage, Victoria Sahrai, Jia Chieng Wang","doi":"10.2217/rme-2023-0118","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Aim:</b> Examining websites of US businesses engaged in direct-to-consumer advertising of putative stem cell treatments and exosome therapies, this study investigated the marketing claims such companies make about the purported safety and efficacy of these products. <b>Methods:</b> Data mining and content analysis of company websites were used to identify and analyze safety and efficacy claims. <b>Results:</b> Of the 978 businesses analyzed, less than half the companies made identifiable claims about the safety and efficacy of their advertised stem cell and exosome products. We also explored how companies framed the stem cell and exosome products they promoted. Representations ranged from assertions that such products are unproven and investigational to claims they constituted cures. Most advertising frames fell between these poles. <b>Conclusion:</b> Some businesses include in their marketing representations claims about the safety and efficacy of advertised products. Businesses that did not make such assertions use other techniques to attract prospective clients.</p>","PeriodicalId":21043,"journal":{"name":"Regenerative medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4000,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Regenerative medicine","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2217/rme-2023-0118","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2023/10/5 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"CELL & TISSUE ENGINEERING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aim: Examining websites of US businesses engaged in direct-to-consumer advertising of putative stem cell treatments and exosome therapies, this study investigated the marketing claims such companies make about the purported safety and efficacy of these products. Methods: Data mining and content analysis of company websites were used to identify and analyze safety and efficacy claims. Results: Of the 978 businesses analyzed, less than half the companies made identifiable claims about the safety and efficacy of their advertised stem cell and exosome products. We also explored how companies framed the stem cell and exosome products they promoted. Representations ranged from assertions that such products are unproven and investigational to claims they constituted cures. Most advertising frames fell between these poles. Conclusion: Some businesses include in their marketing representations claims about the safety and efficacy of advertised products. Businesses that did not make such assertions use other techniques to attract prospective clients.
期刊介绍:
Regenerative medicine replaces or regenerates human cells, tissue or organs, to restore or establish normal function*. Since 2006, Regenerative Medicine has been at the forefront of publishing the very best papers and reviews covering the entire regenerative medicine sector. The journal focusses on the entire spectrum of approaches to regenerative medicine, including small molecule drugs, biologics, biomaterials and tissue engineering, and cell and gene therapies – it’s all about regeneration and not a specific platform technology. The journal’s scope encompasses all aspects of the sector ranging from discovery research, through to clinical development, through to commercialization. Regenerative Medicine uniquely supports this important area of biomedical science and healthcare by providing a peer-reviewed journal totally committed to publishing the very best regenerative medicine research, clinical translation and commercialization.
Regenerative Medicine provides a specialist forum to address the important challenges and advances in regenerative medicine, delivering this essential information in concise, clear and attractive article formats – vital to a rapidly growing, multidisciplinary and increasingly time-constrained community.
Despite substantial developments in our knowledge and understanding of regeneration, the field is still in its infancy. However, progress is accelerating. The next few decades will see the discovery and development of transformative therapies for patients, and in some cases, even cures. Regenerative Medicine will continue to provide a critical overview of these advances as they progress, undergo clinical trials, and eventually become mainstream medicine.