Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, often causing numbness, tingling, burning pain or weakness in the feet and hands. Diabetes is the most common cause. Stem cells are being explored because in animal studies they release growth factors that may support nerve repair and blood flow to nerves.
AT A GLANCE · NEUROPATHY
| Evidence level | Early research |
|---|---|
| Approved stem cell treatment? | No stem cell product is approved for peripheral neuropathy by the US FDA, the EMA or other major regulators. |
| Typical private price | $1,200 – $28,000 (indicative) |
| Recruiting trials | 9 listed on ClinicalTrials.gov (4 October 2026) |
| Last reviewed | October 2026 |
Does stem cell therapy work for neuropathy?
Most of the encouraging data come from animal studies. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis of human studies in diabetic neuropathy found only 7 controlled trials (400 patients), mostly from China, using bone marrow cells or umbilical cord cells injected into leg muscles. These showed small improvements in nerve conduction speed and some symptom scores, with mainly short-lived injection-site swelling reported.
However, the authors highlighted a lack of large, high-quality trials and long-term safety data. There is little or no controlled human evidence for other types of neuropathy, such as chemotherapy-induced or idiopathic neuropathy. No trial has shown that stem cells reverse neuropathy.
Is any stem cell treatment approved for neuropathy?
No stem cell product is approved for peripheral neuropathy by the US FDA, the EMA or other major regulators. In the US, approved stem cell products are limited to cord blood-derived blood-forming cells for certain blood disorders and, since December 2024, one mesenchymal stromal cell therapy for a complication of bone marrow transplant in children.
What private clinics offer — and how it compares
Clinics advertise intravenous or injected stem cells, or ‘exosome’ products, to ‘regrow nerves’ and reverse numbness or pain. Human evidence is limited to a few small trials in diabetic neuropathy showing modest test changes, not reversal of nerve damage.
Proven treatments to discuss first
Before paying for an experimental option, make sure you have explored the established treatments for neuropathy with your doctor:
- Finding and treating the cause, such as blood sugar control in diabetes or correcting vitamin B12 deficiency
- Prescription nerve-pain medicines
- Topical treatments such as lidocaine or capsaicin for some patients
- Regular foot care and checks to prevent ulcers
- Physiotherapy and balance training to reduce falls
- Specialist treatments for immune-related neuropathies
How much does stem cell therapy for neuropathy cost?
Private clinics typically quote $1,200 to $28,000. No neuropathy-specific price survey was found; a 2021 UC Irvine study of US stem cell clinics found treatments cost between about $1,200 and $28,000, averaging roughly $5,100. Insurance does not cover unapproved products. Compare prices by country in our cost guide and location guides, and check insurance coverage.
Risks and side effects
- Infection or swelling at injection sites
- Serious reactions or blood clots with intravenous cell infusions
- Unknown long-term risks; the FDA has received reports of tumour formation and neurological events after unapproved products
- Unregulated products that may be contaminated
- Delaying diagnosis of a treatable cause of neuropathy
Recruiting clinical trials for neuropathy
On 4 October 2026, ClinicalTrials.gov listed 9 recruiting or soon-to-recruit stem cell studies for this condition, 5 with sites in the United States. Here are up to eight, latest-stage first:
| Study | Phase | Locations | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Randomized Controlled Trial on the Efficacy and Safety of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy in Subjects With Moderate to Severe Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy | Phase 2 | China | Recruiting |
| MT2021-08T Cell Receptor Alpha/Beta Depletion PBSC Transplantation for Heme Malignancies | Phase 2 | United States | Recruiting |
| Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Various Chronic and Acute Conditions | Phase 1/Phase 2 | United States | Recruiting |
| Alpha/Beta T and B Cell Depletion With Zoledronic Acid for Solid Tumors | Phase 1/Phase 2 | United States | Recruiting |
| Safety of Cultured Allogeneic Adult Umbilical Cord Stem Cells Exosomes for Trigeminal Neuralgia | Phase 1 | Antigua and Barbuda | Recruiting |
| Development of IPS from Donated Somatic Cells of Patients with Neurological Diseases | N/A | Israel | Recruiting |
| Intradermal Exosomes, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Steroids for Post-Herpetic Neuralgia | N/A | Egypt | Recruiting |
| Neurologic Stem Cell Treatment Study | N/A | United Arab Emirates, United States | Recruiting |
See all matching studies on ClinicalTrials.gov. A listing is not an endorsement: registration does not mean a study is safe or effective, and genuine trials rarely charge you for the experimental treatment. Ask the study team about costs, placebo groups and follow-up before you enrol. See our clinical trials hub.
Questions to ask before you agree to treatment
- Has the cause of my neuropathy been fully investigated, and is it being treated?
- What type of cells are used, how are they given, and what trials support this for my type of neuropathy?
- How will improvement be measured — for example with nerve conduction tests?
- Is this a registered clinical trial, and who monitors my safety?
Before You Pay: The Stem Cell Clinic Checklist
- 20 questions every legitimate clinic should answer in writing
- A red-flag scorecard to spot unregulated marketing
- Realistic 2026 cost ranges: US, Mexico, Panama & Europe
- How to find a registered clinical trial
Red flags to watch for
- Promises to ‘reverse’ or ‘cure’ neuropathy or restore feeling in your feet
- Offering treatment without first checking for treatable causes such as diabetes, B12 deficiency or thyroid problems
- Intravenous stem cell or exosome infusions sold as a general nerve treatment
Stem cell therapy for neuropathy: FAQs
Does stem cell therapy work for neuropathy?
A few small human trials in diabetic neuropathy show modest improvements in nerve tests, but the evidence is low quality and short-term. There is no proof that stem cells reverse nerve damage. It remains experimental.
Can stem cells regrow damaged nerves?
Animal studies suggest stem cells may support nerve repair, but this has not been shown reliably in people. Clinic claims of nerve regrowth are not backed by strong human evidence.
How much does stem cell therapy for neuropathy cost?
US clinic prices vary widely; a 2021 study found stem cell treatments cost from about $1,200 to $28,000, averaging around $5,100. These are usually paid in full by the patient.
Is stem cell therapy FDA approved for neuropathy?
No. The FDA has not approved any stem cell product for neuropathy and warns of serious risks from unapproved stem cell treatments.
Is stem cell therapy for neuropathy covered by insurance?
No. Unapproved stem cell treatments are generally not covered by insurance. Genuine clinical trials usually do not charge participants for the experimental treatment.
Related guides
- Stem cell therapy for knee arthritis
- Stem cell therapy for back pain
- Stem cell therapy for rotator cuff tears
- Stem cell therapy for hip arthritis
- All conditions · Types of stem cell treatment · Clinical trials hub
Sources
- Human studies of the efficacy and safety of stem cells in diabetic peripheral neuropathy: systematic review and meta-analysis (Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 2024)
- Efficacy of MSCs for diabetic neuropathy: systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies
- NINDS – Peripheral Neuropathy
- FDA – Important Patient and Consumer Information About Regenerative Medicine Therapies
- FDA – Patient and Consumer Warning about Potential Serious Risks of Harm following Use of Unapproved Products from Human Cells or Tissues
- FDA – FDA Approves First Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy to Treat Steroid-refractory Acute Graft-versus-host Disease (Dec 2024)
- UC Irvine (2021) – Businesses selling non-FDA-approved stem cell products grew four-fold in five years
Last reviewed October 2026. For general information only — not medical advice. We do not endorse any clinic or product. Always consult a qualified, licensed healthcare professional. See our medical disclaimer and editorial policy.