Stem Cell Therapy in Germany

There’s a lot of “information” out there on Stem Cell Therapy in Germany.

Is it really legal though and what treatments can you actually get? And how does it compare to the rest of Europe?

Our teams sifted through legal documents & clinic websites to get to the actual truth. We’ve broken it all down here for you.

Is Stem Cell Therapy Legal in Germany in 2025

According to Germany’s Guideline for the Manufacture and Application of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Preparations HSCT is legal for licensed facilities and is regulated by the Transplantation Act and Transfusion Act.

What Stem Cell Treatments are Allowed in Germany

If a clinic holds a “hospital exemption” (§ 4b AMG) granted by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI), they’re allowed to perform certain treatments according to the PEI’s presentation on Advanced Therapies.

The hospital exemption (§ 4b of the Arzneimittelgesetz, Medicinal Products Act) allows a hospital to manufacture and use its own advanced therapy medicinal product, such as Stem Cell Therapy, without full EU marketing authorisation.

However, the authorization is:

• Specific to a particular treatment i.e Bone Marrow Derived MSC Therapy for Arthritis
  
• Limited to that clinic or facility, they can’t sell cells to anyone outside of the clinic
  
• Non routine (not for mass commercial use).
  
• The PEI must approve it in advance, ensuring GMP manufacturing, safety documentation and medical oversight.

Clinics Can’t:

• Grow or expand the cells in a lab to offer higher dosage treatments
• Seriously manipulate the Cells
• Operate in a non-regulated environment

For example, if a clinic gets a license to use a patient’s own bone marrow stem cells  to treat knee arthritis, they are legally allowed to offer that exact treatment to other patients who also have knee arthritis.

However, they are not allowed to use that same licensed stem cell product for a completely different problem, like treating back pain, multiple sclerosis, or for anti-aging purposes. 

To do that, they would have to apply for a brand new, separate license for each of those conditions. This is because using a treatment for a different purpose is a new use, and it could have entirely different risks that need to be evaluated all over again.

Can I get Umbilical Cord Derived Stem Cells in Germany?

Legally, no. Currently, you can’t get commercial umbilical cord derived Stem Cell Treatments in Germany.

You also can’t get cultured or “high dosage” Stem Cell treatments in Germany legally either.

So, Can you get Stem Cells in Germany?

Now, we also know there’s some clinics operating outside the law or in grey areas. We’re not here to tell you to not go to them, we’re not saying they offer poor quality treatments at all.

 It’s totally down to you, we’re here to give you the facts so you can make the best decision.

Does a KTQ certification mean a clinic in Germany is allowed to offer Stem Cell treatments?

No, a KTQ certification does not mean that a clinic is legally allowed to perform stem cell treatments.

KTQ stands for “Kooperation für Transparenz und Qualität im Gesundheitswesen” (Cooperation for Transparency and Quality in Healthcare). It’s a quality management accreditation that focuses on patient safety, hygiene, process transparency, and organizational standards inside hospitals and medical centers.

While it’s a respected indicator of good clinical practice, it has nothing to do with treatment approval or what types of therapies a clinic is legally allowed to offer.So, while a KTQ certificate shows that a clinic operates safely and efficiently, it does not authorize them to carry out stem cell or any other advanced cell-based therapies.

How much does Stem Cell Therapy cost in Germany?

Rather than give you a generic answer here, we’d rather wait until we have accurate data.

We’ve gathered our pricing data in a few different ways & we’re always updating it! 

If you want to review costs in other countries, check out our guide on Average Cost around the world.

Best Stem Cell Therapy clinics Across Europe & Asia

We don’t let any clinic just sign up or pay to be listed.

We speak to every clinic directly and review their medical team, the treatments they offer, how their stem cells are sourced and how they follow up with patients after treatment.

We also review licensing documents to confirm they meet the legal and medical standards of the country they operate in. For example, whether cells are processed in a GMP-certified facility or if they provide documentation on stem cell quality.

Clinics must also agree to let us collect and publish independent patient reviews. Both positive and negative.

Why Use Alt Treatment?

We don’t just list clinics, we help you choose the right one, get the best pricing and support you through the entire journey. For free.

Compare with Confidence: Get clinic matches based on your condition, location, and budget.

Ask the Right Questions: Know what to ask before committing

Save on Treatment: Unlock exclusive discounts on vetted clinics and follow-up care.

We’re With You After Treatment: We check in post-treatment and help resolve any issues.

Travel & Visa Help: Need to travel for care? We can help with logistics, documents, and local tips.

Found a Clinic Elsewhere? We’ll check their licensing and track record for you, free of charge.

No Strings Attached: Even if you choose a clinic we don’t partner with, we’re still here to help you make the best decision.

Stem Cell Treatments in Germany vs Europe

For this, we’re not taking into consideration Hematopoietic stem cell treatments for blood disorders, as this is legal in most countries

Bear in mind, regulations in Germany & the UK are much stricter than in Turkey & Ukraine. So whilst it’s not legal in Turkey & Ukraine, you can get a much wider variety of treatments here.

What Countries have Fully Legalized Stem Cell Treatments in 2025 outside of Germany?

Bear in mind, legal doesn’t mean the treatments have been approved because they work, but more so clinics are allowed to offer experimental treatments.

The Table below has more details and the full country guide. To compare treatments globally, check out our guide to Best Countries for Stem Cell Treatments.

2025 Stem Cell Treatment Prices across Europe, outside of Germany

We’re still gathering more data, so bear with us! If you want to compare costs globally, check out our Global Stem Cell Costs guide.