India Restricts Autism Stem Cell Therapy

India's Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory restricting stem cell therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to regulated clinical trials. This directive, dated September 16, 2026, clarifies that such treatments cannot be offered as standard or commercial care.

The Supreme Court, in a January 30, 2026 ruling, supported this stance, stating that stem cell therapy for ASD is not a recognized clinical service outside of approved research. The court acknowledged the challenges faced by families seeking experimental treatments.

The ministry's current approved list for stem cell therapy includes various blood cancers and conditions like multiple sclerosis, but autism is not among them. This advisory reinforces existing guidelines from 2017, distinguishing between established treatments and experimental applications.

Regulatory authorities are instructed to ensure compliance, with potential penalties for non-compliant clinical establishments. The National Medical Commission has also flagged unauthorized stem cell therapy administration as professional misconduct.