Therapy with frozen sheep fetid cells rightly prohibited

Administrative court Neustadt sees "questionable medicine"
The "Villa Medica" in Edenkoben in Rhineland-Palatinate is no longer allowed to continue its therapy with frozen animal fresh cells. The country rightly prohibited the treatment, ruled on December 19, 2017, the administrative court (VG) Neustadt an der Weinstraße; this is a "questionable medicine" (Az .: 5 K 903 / 16.NW). On the other hand, appeal is still possible.

Picture: sebra - fotolia

The private clinic has specialized in fresh cell therapy over 25 years ago. These are mainly obtained from sheep fetuses and injected into the patient. Due to inadequate evidence of the effects and possible risks due to the patient's immune defense, the treatment is controversial.

Recently, the clinic uses only frozen cells. According to the doctor Burkhard Aschoff the treatment has a positive influence on the immune system, especially for joints and motor skills. This should help with states of exhaustion and potency problems as well as joint diseases and Down syndrome.

In December 2015, the country had banned the treatment. The freezing cells are "questionable drugs". As things stand, the benefits have not been proven. However, there are "significant risks", in particular the dangers of transmission of animal pathogens and massive immunoallergic reactions.

In an urgent procedure, the Higher Administrative Court (Koblenz) of the "Villa Medica" had allowed a continuation of treatment with improved patient education; a closer examination is only possible in the main proceedings (urgent decision of 10 August 2016, ref .: 6 B 10500 / 16.OVG, JurAgentur report dated 17 August 2016).

In the main proceedings, VG Neustadt was right in the first instance. Because of the existing risks, the cells are a "questionable medicine". In view of the controversial effectiveness, even minor risks for a ban were sufficient.

Although it is assumed that the risk of transmission of pathogens can be greatly reduced by selecting and keeping the animals, as the doctor claims, the risk of immune defense and allergic reactions remains high. This is clearly evident from an opinion of the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) issued in July 2016.

"This risk is unacceptable given the lack of efficacy of the drug," said VG Neustadt. The applicant's interest in exercising his profession must therefore be less stringent than protecting patients from harmful medicines.

Against this the physician can appeal to the OVG Rhineland-Palatinate in Koblenz. mwo