Regenerative medicine holds considerable promise

Regenerative medicine is a rapidly emerging field that aims to replace or regenerate cells, tissues or organs to restore normal function. Some strategies involve cell therapy and gene therapy that foster the body’s ability to regrow damaged or aged tissues. Another approach involves tissue engineering to create new organs. This column recently covered the development of a 3-D printer designed for that purpose.

Dr. Shinya Yama­naka is one of the pioneers of regenerative medicine. In 2006 he was credited with inducing stem cells to "reboot" to "stage zero" of life, which is similar to what happens at the time of fertilization. There are those who think that regenerative medicine could at some point revolutionize the treatment of damaged muscles, tendons and ligaments, as well as heart disease and degenerative disorders of the nervous system. Others are convinced that this could be a way not only to heal faster, but also to live longer.

Manakai o Malama in now working with a Texas-based research firm that has developed three products derived from the human placenta. These products are designed to restore specific tissues based on where they is applied. Placenta cells work like stem cells but are not associated with the same ethical concerns. Another benefit of the placenta is that it is not subject to rejection by the recipient. Why? Because the growing baby will always have half of its DNA from the father, which is foreign to the mother. The placenta is the only tissue that has figured out how not to reject foreign DNA.

The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine is an international organization that represents the business and research interests of this industry. Its upcoming conference Oct. 14-15 in La Jolla, Calif., will be the third annual meeting with the purpose of gathering leading executives to learn about the latest advances and to foster collaborative activity.

Investors and researchers are betting that regenerative medicine has enormous potential not only to treat disease, but also to stave off the aging process and extend longevity. However, even during the best of times, private money is cautious when investing in new medical technologies because of the high risk of failure to translate scientific discoveries into widely used treatments. Whereas traditional risks focus on regulatory hurdles, increased rationing driven by health care reform begs another question: Will insurance pay for these new products and services?

To be sure, third-party payers, especially government-sponsored insurance such as Medicare and Medicaid, are going to be a tough sell. For new medical advances to be covered, they must demonstrate superior cost benefits compared with existing treatment strategies. While the same is true for private insurers, if regenerative medicine can actually be shown to extend longevity and the public is on board, it is conceivable that demand could justify greater premiums on a sustainable basis. In fact, if the science is good enough and public demand is strong enough, it could ignite a race among private insurance carriers to be the first to market.

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Ira Zunin, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., is medical director of Manakai o Malama Integrative Healthcare Group and Rehabilitation Center and CEO of Global Advisory Services Inc. Please submit your questions to info@manakaiomalama.com.