Judge allows stamina therapy for Niemann-Pick sufferer
Patient's sister, also a sufferer, barred by a different judge
07 March, 18:49
(ANSA) - Turin, March 7 - A judge on Thursday issued a
ruling allowing a controversial form of stem-cell therapy on
compassionate grounds for Salvatore Bonavita, 39, who suffers
from a fatal inherited neurodegenerative disease called
Niemann-Pick syndrome.
The judge ruled Bonavita can receive the therapy, patented
by the Stamina Foundation and which has been under scrutiny by
the Italian Pharmaceutical Agency (AIFA), sparking several
lawsuits.It involves inoculating the patient with biological material, sometimes his or her own and sometimes from other people.
Bonavita's father, Luigi, who sued in court on behalf of his son, is also appealing on behalf of his daughter Erika, who has the same disease but has been barred from receiving the controversial therapy by another judge.
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