What are Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells, and NAD+? A Look at Taiwan's Approval Status
Regenerative medicine, stem cell therapy, and NAD+ are common topics in anti-aging discussions in recent years, but they belong to different categories with varying levels of scientific evidence and regulatory status. In Taiwan, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has established a 'Cell Therapy Technology Information Zone' (celltherapy.mohw.gov.tw) to announce approved projects, with the number of approvals continuously growing (latest figures subject to the announcement on that platform). In 2024, the 'Regenerative Medicine Act' and the 'Regenerative Medical Products Act' (the Dual Regenerative Laws) came into effect, providing a more complete regulatory framework. Some human trials on NAD+ precursors (NMN/NR) have been published (e.g., Yoshino et al., 2021), but large-scale long-term data are still accumulating. This page neutrally organizes the concepts, regulatory status, and inquiry channels for each topic, without claiming any effects. The applicability and risks of related treatments should be based on evaluation by qualified physicians and regulations of the competent authority.
How to distinguish regenerative medicine, stem cells, and NAD+
These three terms often appear together, but they belong to different categories and have different regulatory statuses:
- Regenerative medicine: a medical field that uses cells, growth factors, exosomes, or tissue engineering to assist tissue repair
- Stem cell therapy: a branch of regenerative medicine, regulated by the 'Regenerative Medicine Act' and related sub-laws
- NAD+: a coenzyme in cellular energy metabolism; its precursors NMN/NR are mostly in the form of 'supplements/IV drips,' different from cell therapy
Current approval status of cell therapy in Taiwan
Cell therapy in Taiwan adopts an 'approval system'; you can verify institutions and projects yourself:
- Since 2018, the 'Regulations on the Management of Special Medical Techniques' opened specific autologous cell therapies, which must be performed by institutions approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare within the approved scope
- Approved projects can be queried item by item on the 'Cell Therapy Technology Information Zone' (celltherapy.mohw.gov.tw), with numbers continuously growing
- After the Dual Regenerative Laws took effect in 2024, the regulatory framework is more complete; implementation without approval is illegal
How to assess safety and efficacy
Different treatments vary greatly in evidence, indications, and risks; evaluation should be cautious:
- Safety research on NAD+ supplements is relatively abundant, but large-scale long-term anti-aging benefits are still under investigation
- Stem cell and other cell therapies involve complex preparation, and there have been international case reports of adverse events such as infections or tumors from unregulated therapies
- Relevant decisions should be based on evaluation by a qualified physician and confirmation that the institution is legally approved
FAQ
What is regenerative medicine? How is it related to stem cells?
Regenerative medicine is a medical field that uses cells, growth factors, exosomes, or tissue engineering to assist in the repair or functional recovery of damaged tissues; stem cell therapy is one of its branches. Both are regulated in Taiwan by the 'Regenerative Medicine Act' (promulgated in June 2024) and related sub-laws. They must be performed by medical institutions approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare within the approved scope, and no efficacy claims may be made arbitrarily.
What approved cell therapy projects are there in Taiwan? Where to check?
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has established a 'Cell Therapy Technology Information Zone' (celltherapy.mohw.gov.tw) to announce approved technology items and implementing institutions. Since the 'Regulations on the Management of Special Medical Techniques' in 2018 opened specific autologous cell therapies, the number of approved projects has been continuously growing (latest figures subject to the announcement on that platform), covering multiple types such as immune cell therapy and stem cell therapy. On that platform, you can check approved institutions, technology categories, and indications one by one. Implementation without approval is illegal (Source: Ministry of Health and Welfare).
What is NAD+? Is there scientific evidence for NMN/NR?
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is an important coenzyme in cellular energy metabolism. Its precursors NMN and NR can be converted in the body. Regarding human trials, in 2021 Yoshino et al. (Cell Metabolism) published a small-scale randomized controlled trial on NMN, showing improved skeletal muscle NAD+ metabolism; multiple trials on NR have confirmed oral safety. However, most studies are small-scale with short follow-up periods, and large-scale long-term benefits are still under investigation. Use should be evaluated by a physician for individual suitability, not based solely on promotional claims (Source: Cell Metabolism, 2021).
What is exosome therapy? How is it different from stem cells?
Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles secreted by cells, carrying signaling molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids, and may be involved in intercellular communication. Unlike stem cells themselves, exosomes do not contain cells. Clinical research on exosomes for anti-aging or regenerative medicine is mostly in early stages, with limited large-scale human trial data. In Taiwan, they are also regulated by regenerative medicine-related laws, and institutions must be verified to have obtained legal approval.
Are these treatments safe? Are the effects certain?
Different treatments vary greatly in their level of evidence, indications, and known risks. Safety research on NAD+ supplements is relatively abundant; stem cell and other cell therapies involve complex preparation and administration procedures, and there have been international case reports of adverse events such as infections or tumors from unregulated therapies. This site does not guarantee the efficacy or safety of any treatment. Relevant decisions should be based on evaluation by a qualified physician and confirmation that the institution is legally approved.
What are the 'Dual Regenerative Laws' passed in Taiwan in 2024? How do they affect the public?
The 'Dual Regenerative Laws' refer to the 'Regenerative Medicine Act' and the 'Regenerative Medical Products Act' passed by the Legislative Yuan in June 2024, establishing a dedicated legal framework for regenerative medicine (including cell therapy, gene therapy, and regenerative medical products) in Taiwan. Key directions include: clarifying the qualifications for performing regenerative medicine and conditions for medical institutions, strengthening patient rights protection and adverse reaction reporting, regulating the registration and conditional approval mechanisms for regenerative medical products, and requiring providers to have certain quality and safety controls. For the public, this means clearer legal basis and supervision for such treatments, but 'having a dedicated law' does not mean 'every treatment has been proven effective or suitable for everyone.' Applicability, costs, and risks still need to be evaluated by a qualified physician based on individual conditions, and the project and institution must be verified as legally approved. The actual provisions and sub-laws are subject to the announcements of the competent authority.
This page is a neutral compilation of information for reference only, not medical advice, and does not constitute any diagnostic commitment.