Articles in Apr 22, 2007 issue of New Straits Times
MALAYSIA is set to become the global hub for stem cell transplantation following a decision by the world’s largest manufacturer of stem cells to site its main manufacturing plant here soon.
Bio-Cellular Research Organisation (BCRO), which is the world’s foremost researcher in stem cell transplantation with almost three decades standing, is headquartered in the United States.
Its present manufacturing plant is in Slovakia.
BCRO is projecting an estimated RM280 million over a three-year period to transfer its technical know how by its scientists from the USA and European Union.
According to Dr E. Michael Molnar, who is one of the world’s foremost experts on stem cell transplantation, BCRO currently supplies stem cell transplants to doctors and hospitals in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
“We have extended treatment to about 200 patients in South East Asia, Hong Kong and Australia, including about 100 cases in Malaysia over the last 21/2 years.
“The best results were seen among Down Syndrome and brain- injured children, and adult patients with neuro-degenrative diseases and complications from diabetes.”
He said for more than 16 years, BCRO stem cell transplants have been carried out with negligible pain and rare local infection as the only side effect.
This qualifies this method as a cutting edge technology for therapy of a whole variety of indications which include:
* diabetes
* hormone deficiency disorders
* early menopause
* male and female infertility, where usual treatment has failed
* immune deficiency disorders such as chronic weakness syndrome, AIDS, cancer and auto-immune illnesses
* aging diseases including menopause, impotence and depression
* cirrhosis of the liver and chronic hepatitis
“Besides these diseases, physicians have also used stem cell transplants as a treatment for many other ailments where patients need a direct simulation of regeneration (repair) of damaged cells and tissues.
“We at BCRO have found a method to prepare stem cells transplants of any of the 200 kinds of cells for clinical use that can be implanted with state-of-the-art technology,” said Dr Molnar.
He added that a stem cell transplant can range from RM26,000 upwards.
“However, once we set up in Malaysia, we can expect the price to be much cheaper.”