Eleni Papadaki, a board member of the Greek Society of Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, has issued a warning about the use of unapproved cellular therapies, prompted by the death of Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis.
Papadaki said the discussion about these practices was separate from the exact cause of the singer's death and from whether it was linked to any medical treatment. Her concern, she said, was the broader issue of unlicensed methods being applied and promoted without sufficient scientific evidence for the conditions they claim to treat.
Repeated warnings from the society
In a post, Papadaki said the issue of stem cell treatments and so called regenerative medicine methods offered at unlicensed centres had been raised repeatedly, both publicly and through the society.
She recalled that on April 27, 2026, the society had organised an event at the Propylaea in Athens titled Truths and Myths about Cell Therapies: What Patients Need to Know. The event was aimed at members of the public and journalists and sought to inform people about the risks that can arise from unapproved treatments.
Concerns over anti-aging claims
Papadaki placed particular emphasis on interventions marketed under labels such as regenerative and anti-aging, questioning whether they hold the necessary approvals, what conditions they are being used for, what scientific data supports them and what is known about their safety.
She was direct in describing the position of Greece's National Organization for Medicines, saying the regulator has given no approval for treatments of this kind and that anything advertised along these lines by clinics is illegal.
Call for transparency
Papadaki said protecting patients and ensuring the public receives reliable information requires responsibility, transparency and medical practices grounded in scientific evidence.
The Greek Society of Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine represents specialists in the field and has previously worked to inform the public about the risks of unregulated cell-based treatments.
