Leading Global Cell Therapy Organizations Support U.S. Department of Justice Appeal of Ruling
(Corrected Copy)
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan 23, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- A coalition of nine leading international health organizations today issued a statement supporting the U.S. Department of Justice's appeal of the Ninth Circuit Court ruling that allows certain marrow donors to be compensated. Filed Jan. 17, the Justice Department's appeal cites the potential for serious health risks to patients and donors if the ruling stands.
Approximately 5,000 patients each year in the United States receive marrow transplants from unrelated donors to treat leukemia, lymphoma and a number of other diseases. The marrow is a source of stem cells that are critical to restoring the immune system for these patients. Two techniques are used to extract these stem cells. The first draws marrow directly from the donor's hip bone and the second moves the stem cells out of the bone marrow and into the bloodstream using a stimulating hormone, and then collects peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) in a procedure similar to the collection of platelets from blood donors.
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