01 Investigation
Written by: Li Yinglin, Lao Xianliang
2021-04-12 07:00
Last update date: 2021-04-12 07:00
In recent years, citizens and celebrities suffering from cancer have crowdfunded medical expenses, and each injection costs more than 100,000 yuan for "immune cell therapy."
Yang Bin, a geriatrician who opened a clinic in Causeway Bay, claimed that a well-known artist was his patient. The reporter pretended to be a relative or friend for consultation. He introduced a mixed therapy of NK (natural killer) cells and CIK (cytokine-induced killer) cells, and four per treatment course. The needle fee is 400,000 yuan.
Yang Bin said that the cells used for treatment came from a laboratory in Shenzhen, and were from other people's cord blood.
The Department of Health stated that no import permit has been issued, and there are no registered pharmaceutical products of NK or CIK cells in Hong Kong.
In other words, Shenzhen Cell is involved in many crimes such as smuggling and illegal trade in organs.
"Immune Cell Therapy" series of investigation reports:
Immune Cell Therapy | Geriatrics called celebrity cancer treatment Shenzhen smuggled preparations 100,000 per shot
Immune Cell Therapy | Hong Kong Doctors Smuggling Cells Involved in Multiple Crimes, Shenzhen Laboratory Boss Reveals the Shade
Immune Cell Therapy｜Deconstruction of NK, CIK, CAR-T Therapy There is only one legal clinic in Hong Kong
In recent years, some citizens have launched crowdfunding for "immune cell therapy" to treat cancer.
The principle of this type of immune cell therapy is to extract immune cells from the human body, culture or transform them in a laboratory, and then infuse them back into the body to kill cancer cells.
These include T cells, NK (natural killer) cells, and CIK (cytokine-induced killer) cell therapy.
The DR medical cosmetology accident in 2012 was blood contamination in CIK therapy, resulting in one death, one amputation and one disability.
▼Comparison of several immune cell therapies▼
Reporter Dr. Snake sells 500,000 yuan therapy
Some cancer patients who received immunotherapy said that they contacted their doctors through the "Jin Yu Natural Therapy Centre" in Jordan.
The reporter pretended to be relatives and friends suffering from cancer for inquiries, and contacted Yang Bin, a geriatrician who opened a clinic in Causeway Bay through Miss Feng, who claimed to represent the Naturopathic Center.
It costs 1,000 yuan for consultations with relatives and friends. After Yang Bin asked about the condition of the reporter’s relatives and friends, he introduced a therapy that mainly uses "NK cells" and mixed with "CIK cells". He also claimed that it is an emerging medical treatment that is not subject to drug regulations. Four injections within a week is a course of treatment, and the fee is nearly 500,000 yuan. If the effect is good, a second course of treatment can be done after three months. "Some patients with stage 3 or 4 cancer have their lives extended after receiving cell therapy."
Said allogeneic cells are more advanced, Japan does not legally use Shenzhen products
Yang Bin pointed out that general cell therapy involves extracting autologous immune cells, culturing them, and reinfusing them. However, he believes that the condition referred to by reporters is serious and that "alternative" cells should be used. He also pointed out that this technology is more advanced, but Japan does not allow it. Only cells from the Shenzhen laboratory can be used.
"Immune cells from the cord blood of normal people are collected and stored. If you do it, wait a week and do it. After the virus has been tested, it will be sent to Hong Kong and transfused into the body." Yang Bin said because of the epidemic, it is not possible to go to the mainland, Taiwan and other places. For treatment, only NK allogeneic cells imported from Shenzhen can be used.
Show videos of celebrities suffering from cancer
The reporter had questions about this, Yang Bin explained to Ms. Feng in detail, and discussed the price and other details.
Ms. Feng introduced the situation of the two patients and showed photos, videos and SMS chat records.
She said that one of the "patients A" was in poor condition. "The problem was with the diet. You saw her after a few hundred thousand yuan injection and opened a can of abalone juice for rice." She also referred to another "patient B." "She is restrained, and the effect is better. "She has a strong will to survive."
In September 2020, the State Food and Drug Administration approved Zhongjia’s medical device products for cultivating NK cells, T cells and stem cell culture media for "recording", stating that "cultured cells are used for in vitro diagnosis".
(Website of the State Food and Drug Administration)
Revealed that the Shenzhen laboratory only allows cells to be cultured for in vitro diagnosis
The reporter still wanted to know which company or laboratory in Shenzhen the cell product came from. She showed the reporter a report, but the reporter was forbidden to take it. "It is a biomedical technology company. I can't give it to you."
What the reporter saw was the "Shenzhen Zhongjia Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd." report.
According to the records of the National Food and Drug Administration, Zhongjia only obtained the “record” of medical device products for culturing NK cells, T cells and stem cell culture media in September last year, but there were no CIK cells. It also stated that “cultured cells are used for in vitro diagnosis. ".
Department of Health: Unauthorized registration and import
The Department of Health stated that there are no registered pharmaceutical products of NK or CIK cells in Hong Kong, and no import permit has been issued.
How did the Shenzhen cells referred to by Yang Bin enter Hong Kong?
The owner of the Shenzhen laboratory said it would be dangerous to smuggle if he didn't know Yang Bin
Qu Shoukang, the executive director of Zhongjia Biomedical Technology, said he did not know Yang Bin, but admitted that he would sell the products to distributors. "We don't care how to ship to Hong Kong." The reporter asked whether he would worry about legal liability if smuggling was involved. Putting aside the relationship, frankly, the transportation of cell products has strict requirements on temperature and storage, and smuggling will be very dangerous.
He even bluntly said that there are many gray areas in the mainland industry.
Five crimes involved
The reporter confirmed his identity and went to Yang Bin's clinic, but he could not be found and he did not answer written questions.
The staff of Jinyu Natural Therapy Center said that Ms. Feng was "helpful," but she was not an employee.
Yang Bin treated patients with allogeneic NK cells imported from Shenzhen, or was suspected of violating five crimes: Hong Kong has never approved import and registration, suspected of violating the "Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance", "Prevention and Control of Diseases Ordinance", "Import and Export Ordinance" "; Allogeneic umbilical cord blood NK cells are involved in organ transplantation, which violates the Human Organ Transplantation Ordinance; the clinic has not applied for a day medical center license. If the extraction and cell return procedures are performed, it is a violation of the Private Medical Institutions Ordinance.
(See separate draft for details)
In 2012, DR accident killed two severely injured three people and sentenced to prison for manslaughter
In 2012, the DR medical cosmetology accident was caused by blood contamination during the CIK reinfusion process, resulting in one death, one amputation and one disability. The authorities then legislated to supervise advanced therapies. Last year, the Legislative Council passed it, but gave the industry about one year of adaptation period. To be officially implemented in the gazette.
▼The 2012 DR tragedy convicted three people for manslaughter ▼
▼Revisit the investigation report of ``Drying Salt Water Beauty''▼
[Drop salt water beauty] Intravenous beauty infusion is suspected of containing steroids, the doctor reprimands incredible
[Drop salt water beauty] Nurses who are not registered in hotel rooms give injections to spas involved in illegal medical practice
[Hanging salt water beauty] Madonna Rihanna pursues Australian clinic and was ordered to close after accident
▼Review the investigation report of ``Smuggling Blood Test''▼
Directly attacked by Hong Kong doctors assisting pregnant Lu’s "Blood Test" by signing a blank referral letter and was approved for violation of professional ethics
Intermediary falsifies blood test report, saves laboratory test fee, innocent fetus abortion
Immune Cell Therapy | Hong Kong Doctors Smuggling Cells Involved in Multiple Crimes, Shenzhen Laboratory Boss Reveals the Shade
Immune Cell Therapy｜Deconstruction of NK, CIK, CAR-T Therapy There is only one legal clinic in Hong Kong
01News
Immunotherapy DR Medical Aesthetic Cancer Doctors Department of Health Private Medical Regulations Smuggling Organ Transplants 01 Detection 01 Video My Home