Stem Cell Therapy

• Stem cell therapy for oncological diseases
• Stem cell therapy for optic nerve atrophy
• Stem cell therapy for erectile dysfunction
• Stem cell therapy for diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2
• Stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis
• Stem cell therapy for liver cirrhosis
• Stem cell therapy for orthopedic pathologies
• Other Applications of Stem Cell Therapy
• Specialized clinics for stem cell procedures
• Stem cell therapy abroad with Booking Health
• Frequently Asked Questions

Stem cell therapy (SCT) comes to the rescue when tissues or organs of the human body are damaged irreversibly. If the natural regeneration can’t ensure the complete recovery, missed or severely affected organs and tissues can be restored "de novo". As stem cells (SC) give origin to the whole human organism, under the specific circumstances they can become any necessary body part. Most often stem cell therapy (SCT) is effective as an alternative therapy in patients with blood cancer and solid tumors, optic nerve atrophy, diabetes mellitus and its complications, erectile dysfunction, liver cirrhosis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson’s disease, pathologies of joints and cartilage, immunodeficiencies, and other different health conditions. Stem cell therapy demonstrates outstanding results in pathologies that were previously considered incurable. In Germany, specialized hospitals offer cell-based treatments and affordable stem cell therapy cost.

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Stem cell therapy for oncological diseases

Stem cell therapy does not treat cancer, but allows patients to improve the function of red bone marrow (most often) and other organs that have been destroyed by the malignant process itself or chemotherapy / radiation therapy used during the treatment. Three different types of adult stem cells are used in cancer treatment. These are mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), hematopoietic stem cells (peripheral blood cells, PBSC) and neural stem cells (NSC).

Hematopoietic stem cells restore the function of red bone marrow. This type of treatment is called bone marrow transplant. The bone marrow transplant is a complicated procedure that is performed in departments of oncology or hematology of leading hospitals. Often, children need bone marrow transplant which requires ultimate effort from all the hospital’s specialists.

Mesenchymal stem cells are mostly used to deliver other therapeutic agents to the target regions or to support other treatments (e.g. improve bone condition by stimulating the multiplication of osteocytes). Neural stem cells are originally present in the CNS, but they have demonstrated efficacy in treatment of metastatic prostate, lung and breast cancer.

Unlike mentioned above natural stem cells, the induced pluripotent stem cells were created in the laboratory. They are made from adult somatic cells. Due to modifications, induced pluripotent stem cells acquire characteristics of the embryonic stem cells (ESC). Embryonic stem cells have high regenerative potential, but their usage is limited due to ethical considerations. Despite the relatively high stem cell therapy cost, pluripotent stem cells are definitely worth considering.

Stem cell therapy for optic nerve atrophy

Optic nerve atrophy may arise as the independent pathology or as the glaucoma complication. In any case, damage to the nerve is irreversible, as it can’t regenerate. Stem cell therapy improves a patient’s condition via multiple mechanisms of action:

• Stimulates angiogenesis (new blood vessels formation)
• Improves blood supply of the optic nerve and the retina
• Contributes to restoring normal tissue metabolic processes
• Suppresses autoimmune processes against structures of the visual analyzer
• Prevents scars formation and substitution of optic nerve with the connective tissue

In optic nerve atrophy, the mesenchymal stem cells are used due to their neuroprotective, immunomodulating and regenerative properties. The donor cells are harvested from the bone marrow and adipose tissue. After assessing the number of harvested cells and checking them for blood infections, they are injected close to the optic nerve (into the suprachoroidal and subtenon spaces of the eye). The second procedure may be performed in 1-2 months, if necessary. Often, stem cell therapy cost includes only 1 injection, and this is sufficient.

In 1-1.5 months after the single stem cell injection (SCI) regeneration of nerve fibers and neurons starts. First clinical improvements can be noticed in 3 months. The result will remain stable provided that the cause of the pathology is excluded. Stem cell therapy is usually supplemented by drug administration and physiotherapy that can be included in total stem cell therapy cost.

Patient's Story – Regaining Vision Through Stem Cell Therapy

Sofia Afimova's nine-year battle with optic nerve atrophy seemed hopeless – conventional treatments had failed to stop her vision decline. At 21, she traveled to Germany seeking stem cell therapy at the Clinic of Advanced Biological Medicine. Dr. Gerhard Siebenhüner's personalized treatment delivered what seemed impossible: actual vision improvement. The blurriness cleared. Her confidence returned. Sofia can now navigate independently and use her phone with ease – a transformation that speaks volumes about stem cell therapy's potential for conditions once deemed untreatable.

Optic Nerve Atrophy: Sofia's Treatment Results after Single Stem Cell Injection

Stem cell therapy for erectile dysfunction

Before a doctor makes the decision about administration of stem cell therapy, he should clarify the cause of erectile dysfunction, as in some cases this type of treatment will have zero efficacy. For instance, stem cell therapy is able to improve the condition of blood vessels and nerve endings, so it will lead to the improvement in men with vasculogenic and neurogenic erectile dysfunction. On the other hand, stem cell therapy will cause no improvement in men with endocrine or psychogenic erectile dysfunction.

In vasculogenic or neurogenic erectile dysfunction the intracavernous mesenchymal stem cell injections are performed. Stem cells are harvested from a patient's own adipose tissue, processed, and cultivated in the laboratory in order to increase their number. The stromal vascular fraction of stem cells is obtained then. In Germany, special devices are used for stem cells segregation, so that their viability does not suffer and stem cell therapy cost does not increase because of repeated procedures.

After that, about 3-5 ml of the received medication are injected into the cavernous bodies, via up to 6 punctures in the different areas. The injected drug contains about 50 million stem cells, which is enough for the start regeneration of blood vessels and nerve endings. The effect received is long-term, the need to repeat the procedure may arise only in several years.

In men with neurogenic erectile dysfunction additional intravenous stem cell injections may improve the clinical effect. Distributed via blood, stem cells reach nerve endings better. This is reasonable, as even in the case of repeated injections stem cell therapy cost is more beneficial compared to constant medications intake.

Stem cell therapy for diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2

Diabetes mellitus is caused by the death of pancreatic beta-cells against the background of autoimmune aggression. Thus, efforts of the scientists are aimed at both restoring the pancreatic beta-cells and suppressing the autoimmune process against them. For this purpose, two types of cellular therapy are used: pluripotent stem cell injections (SCI) into the blood, and transplantation of more specialized insulin-producing cells from the donor pancreas.

Replacement of the destroyed pancreatic cells in the stem cell clinic includes several stages:

1. Harvesting the donor stem cells. Depending on the clinical situation, umbilical cord blood, fetal, bone marrow, hematopoietic, and mesenchymal precursor cells may be used.
2. Processing the harvested material, cultivation and multiplication of stem cells. Once their amount is sufficient, the medication is injected into the blood (intravenously) or directly into the pancreas as a single stem cell injection.
3. Monitoring a patient’s health condition in order to avoid the adverse reactions, giving recommendations on further treatment – all these are included in the stem cell therapy cost.

In Germany, doctors elaborate carefully the scheme of blood glucose lowering drug intake, as the insulin production will restore gradually. Due to the better pancreas function, lower dosages of antihyperglycemic drugs are required. Most probably, a patient will not refuse the drug therapy completely, but his diabetes mellitus will be controlled much better.

Stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis

Stem cells are considered an experimental therapy for patients with multiple sclerosis. Like the diabetes mellitus type 1, multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition. In this case, the autoimmune aggression is aimed at myelin sheath that is the essential part of a brain and spinal cord. Due to action of autoantibodies, neurons are damaged irreversibly and a number of severe clinical manifestations arise. Thus, stem cell therapy of multiple sclerosis pursues two aims, i.e. suppression of the autoimmune process and restoration of brain and spinal cord.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cells are used for these purposes. The treatment process in the stem cell clinic consists of six basic stages:

1. Stimulation of stem cells releasing from the bone marrow to the blood stream with the help of growth factors administration.
2. Collecting blood, isolating stem cells and transfusing blood back to the patient.
3. Processing and storing cryopreserved stem cells as long as the patient is ready to receive them.
4. Administering therapy aimed at suppressing the immune system, and conditioning chemotherapy. This reduces the risk of disease relapse, eliminating its main pathogenetic mechanism.
5. Intravenous introduction of stem cells, that reach the target regions through blood.
6. Recovery period, thorough medical follow-up after discharge from the hospital – all needs to be considered in the total stem cell therapy cost.

The recovery period may take about 6-12 months, depending on the individual health state. This is the price of undergoing therapy that affects immunity. Hopefully, the immune system is rebooted during this period, so it stops attacking patient’s own myelin and causing inflammation in the nervous system.

Stem cell therapy for liver cirrhosis

Liver itself has significant intrinsic regenerative properties. However, persisting liver damage, e.g. in people with alcoholism, fatty liver disease, hepatitis B and C, makes this potential poor and leads to the substitution of normal liver tissue with the non-functioning connective tissue. As the final stage of the chronic liver disease, liver cirrhosis develops. In most cases, cirrhosis is accompanied by liver insufficiency and poses threat to the patient's life.

Before the implementation of stem cell therapy into the hospital’s clinical practice, the only efficient treatment option for patients with liver cirrhosis was liver transplant. Cell-based therapy gave such patients a chance to avoid long being on the waiting list for receiving the donor organ. Human umbilical cord blood stem cells and bone marrow-derived stem cells are used for restoring normal liver parenchyma. Such stem cells can differentiate in both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. In addition, they have antifibrotic and immunomodulatory effects.

In Germany, usage of the artificially manufactured induced pluripotent stem cells is currently under investigation, but it still demonstrates the promising results and accumulates impressive body of evidence.

Stem cell therapy for orthopedic pathologies

Orthopedic regenerative medicine actively uses mesenchymal stem cells from fat tissue, etc. In addition to the regenerative potential, the mesenchymal stem cells produce anti-inflammatory cytokines and can migrate chemotactically to the sites of injury and inflammation. Thus, they restore tendons, cartilage, and bones.

Tendons have low metabolic activity and regenerative potential. The most effective technique of stem cells application to tendons is via scaffolds containing the native extracellular matrix. In such cases stem cells will be able to seed on the damaged tendon area.

The most widespread techniques of cartilage restoration are autologous chondrocyte transplantation (which are more specialized stem cells) and autograft transplantation. In addition, mesenchymal stem cells from the subchondral bone can be used. Bone microfracturing or drilling stimulates releasing of stem cells and the subsequent cartilage regeneration.

Stem cell therapy can replace the extensive bone lesions caused by injury, infection or tumor. The mesenchymal stem cells promote angiogenesis, so that the damaged bone regenerates better. They are used in patients with fractures, patients after osteotomy, patients with bone defects and cysts, pseudarthrosis, osteonecrosis, etc. The technique is more sparing compared to the previously used techniques of autologous bone grafting with significant damage to the donor site, and stem cell therapy cost is often more beneficial.

Other Applications of Stem Cell Therapy

Stem cell treatment isn’t limited to a few well-known conditions. The field is growing quickly, and every year brings new possibilities for patients who once had very few options.

Cardiological diseases. In dilated or ischemic cardiomyopathy myocardium gradually loses its strength, up to full failure. Early use of MSCs help improve blood flow in damaged areas and support natural tissue repair. It’s not about "fixing" the heart overnight, but about giving it the chance to recover function that once seemed permanently lost.

Diabetes complications. For people living with diabetes, complications often cause more trouble than the disease itself. Numbness or burning in the legs, or vision that slowly fades – these issues affect daily life in very real ways. MSC therapy is suggested to be way to regeneration. Patients often describe small but meaningful improvements, which is exactly what makes this direction so promising.

Neurological issues, specifically ASD. No one tells it is a miracle cure, but there is ongoing research into whether stem cells may help individuals with autism spectrum disorders. It’s still early for a final conclusion, but the new data suggests that some patients may benefit.

Fibrotic diseases. Fibrosis – scarring of organs – is notoriously difficult to treat. In chronic pancreatitis or pulmonary fibrosis, healthy tissue is slowly replaced by stiff, non-functional scar. SC therapy is suggested to be a key because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. No, it doesn’t reverse years of damage; however, it may help slow progression and give patients more stable function over time. For many, that "extra time" is priceless.

Regenerative medicine is one of the fastest-moving areas of healthcare. What looks experimental today may soon become part of routine patient care – and that gives real hope to people who need it most.

Specialized clinics for stem cell procedures

Laboratory standards, physician expertise, rehabilitation protocols, research depth – these factors separate exceptional clinics from the rest, and the five facilities below represent the highest tier of regenerative medicine worldwide. Stem cell therapy cost varies dramatically across facilities – but price alone never tells the full story.

Clinic of Advanced Biological Medicine in Frankfurt-am-Main

For over 40 years, this Frankfurt clinic has pioneered the integration of traditional therapies and biological medicine. A leader in stem cell therapy, it exclusively uses cells harvested from patients or donors – never experimental fresh animal or plant cells.

The approach is deeply personalized. Treatment combines cutting-edge technology and conventional schemes with proven complementary methods. Cancer, chronic diseases – the interdisciplinary team addresses both through the seven principles of advanced treatments. The goal reaches beyond patient's symptoms relief: strengthen immunity, enhance quality of life, minimize side effects. This holistic philosophy has established Clinic of Advanced Biological Medicine in Frankfurt-am-Main among Germany's most respected regenerative medicine facilities.

ANOVA IRM Clinic for Regenerative Medicine

This is Europe's first certified stem cell therapy center – and a true pioneer. The ANOVA IRM Clinic broke new ground as the continent's leader in stem cell secretome (SCS) treatment. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – their innovative approach tackles conditions once deemed hopeless.

Prof. Dr. Michael Stehling leads the team with medical licenses spanning three countries: Germany, Switzerland, and the USA. The clinic offers standard stem cell therapy, SCS treatment, bone marrow concentrate (BMC) therapy, and PRP injections. Anti-aging programs are the additional offer. Their diagnostic capabilities run deep – to biochemical, genetic, and imaging tests. International patients travel here for personalized regenerative medicine that meets rigorous German and European standards.

Mayo Clinic

This is America's #1-ranked hospital for seven consecutive years. Since establishing its Center for Regenerative Medicine in 2011, Mayo Clinic has pushed boundaries relentlessly. Over 500 stem cell transplants annually have become just the beginning. Their stem cell research covers such topics as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for blood disorders, mesenchymal stem cells, induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs).

The approach that sets them apart is rigorously scientific. Mayo created one of America's first Regenerative Medicine Consult Services to separate fact from fiction. Heart repair through patient cells. Stem cells grown in space. Mini-organs in a dish. With $1+ billion in annual research funding, they're not just treating – they're revolutionizing.

Biotherapy International

Professor Shimon Slavin, M.D., who leads Biotherapy International from Tel Aviv, revolutionizes treatment paradigms. This is possible due to 680+ scientific publications and decades pioneering cellular therapy behind him. He coordinates an international network – bringing regenerative medicine approaches and high-quality stem cells to patients worldwide.

The German clinic from the Biotherapy International network is located near the Swiss border – in the city of Rheinfelden. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are used in the treatment facility for tissue regeneration in multiple medical conditions. These are neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammation, etc. The clinic offers outpatient procedures and comfortable conditions with Prof. Slavin approving every protocol personally.

Swiss Medica Clinic

Started in Switzerland, perfected in Serbia. Since 2011, Swiss Medica has specialized in regenerative medicine – and in 2024 unveiled a 10,000-square-meter hospital in Belgrade that changed everything.

The scale is impressive and the science is even more so. Their in-house laboratory meets EU GMP Grade A standards, processing 31+ types of cell products: mesenchymal stem cells, stromal vascular fraction, fibroblasts, regulatory T-cells, exosomes.

Neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, chronic medical conditions – their team of 250+ professionals manages them all. Comprehensive rehabilitation spans 50+ methods. Location also matters – it is just 2.5 hours from major European cities.

Peculiarities of different countries and stem cell therapy cost

Stem cell therapy abroad with Booking Health

Areas and possibilities of stem cell therapy administration, as well as the stem cell treatment cost, differ from country to country. First of all, it can be performed in a limited number of hospitals that have the doctors with relevant experience. Second, stem cell therapy should correspond to the country’s legislation, e.g. usage of the embryonic stem cells is prohibited in certain European hospitals. Third, the hospital should have the equipment for the processing of embryonic, tissue-specific or mesenchymal stem cells, or for laboratory creation of pluripotent stem cells.

Thus, people often need to travel in search of the necessary treatment abroad. In such a situation, the international medical tourism operator Booking Health provides patients with comprehensive assistance. Medical specialists and managers of Booking Health will help in the following issues:

• Choosing the most suitable US, Asian or European hospital based on the qualification profile and rates of successful treatment
• Establishing the preliminary distant communication with treating physician
• Preparing medical program in advance, including examinations, stem cells administration and follow-up
• Providing favorable stem cell treatment cost, without overpricing and additional coefficients for foreigners (saving about 50% of the usual stem cell therapy cost)
• Booking the appointment on the necessary date
• Monitoring the medical program at all stages
• Help in buying and forwarding of medicines, if any are required
• Communication with the hospital after stem cell therapy completion
• Control of invoices and return of unspent funds
• Organization of additional examinations, if any are required
• Non-medical service of the highest level: interpreter, booking hotels and plane tickets, transfer organization

To start planning your stem cell treatment in Germany or another European hospital, you should leave the request on the Booking Health website. Patient case manager or medical advisor will contact you the same day by phone or email and tell you about the most suitable options. Thanks to Booking Health, you can get treatment abroad easier, faster and with affordable stem cell therapy cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Authors:

This article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, and Dr. Bohdan Mykhalniuk. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!

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