Regulation reins in stem cell therapy

China is aiming to control the "wildly" growing practice of stem cell therapy, issuing on Friday its first regulation covering the largely controversial medical procedure in terms of safety and efficacy.

All treatments involving stem cells will be considered experimental except for hemopoietic stem cell therapy treating a variety of blood diseases, including leukemia, said the regulation by the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

"Only eligible hospitals can work with stem cells in clinical trials for research and there must not be fees or advertising," said Zhang Linming, a senior official in the commission's Science and Technology Department.