Claims to cure autism with stem cells investigated by London police

The Metropolitan Police is investigating allegations against a doctor offering stem cell therapy to cure autism in children in London.

The unnamed doctor, reportedly from Bangladesh, is believed to be offering stem cell injections primarily to Bangladeshi and other Asian communities in southeast London. Earlier this month, Greenwich and Newham councils, as well as local schools and nurseries, were informed about the potential fraud as the doctor is believed to arrive in London on 22 April.

'Inquiries are ongoing to establish the identity of the person(s) behind these adverts and to confirm where they are based. There is no evidence to suggest that the person(s) behind these adverts has treated anybody in the UK,' a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said.

The doctor first presented his stem cell therapy at a conference in London or online earlier this year, according to The Times. The treatment is thought to involve injections of bone marrow and cerebrospinal fluid into the brain of children with autism.

While there is currently no cure for autism, Professor Declan Murphy of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, whose research focuses on neurodevelopmental disorders including autism, explained why people should be wary of the treatment proposal: 'There is no good evidence that stem-cell treatments are effective for autism. Indeed, the current evidence shows the opposite – it shows that they are ineffective and come with very significant risks.'

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability that affects social, behavioural, and emotional learning. According to the National Autistic Society, around 700,000 children and adults are affected by ASD in the UK.

'We would encourage anyone looking for advice or guidance about autism to seek reliable and safe information from our charity, the NHS and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence,' a spokesperson for the National Autistic Society said.

Stem cell therapies are currently offered for the treatment of blood and immune disorders, however, concerns have previously been raised about the safety and efficacy of stem cell procedures and the importance of imposing stricter regulations on the stem cell therapy market (see BioNews 927).