Are exosome and stem cell treatments safe? What Indonesia's BPOM says

Exosome and stem cell treatments are widely discussed as anti-aging options. On 16 October 2026, BPOM, Indonesia's food and drug authority, published a public explanation urging caution about cell and gene therapy services and products that do not meet the rules, including secretome and exosome products.

This article summarises BPOM's official explanation, what to ask before trying a treatment, and a basic routine from Kira for fine lines.

What BPOM says

• No marketing authorisation yet. As of the explanation, BPOM had not authorised stem cell and tissue-engineered therapy products for therapeutic use, nor secretome and exosome products from human cells for therapeutic use in Indonesia. It has approved one gene therapy product, for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in children.
• Prescription-only medicines. Cell and gene therapy products, including secretome and exosome products, are prescription-only medicines that must be given on a doctor's prescription.
• Claims must be proven. Products that state benefits must be backed by scientific evidence and approved by BPOM.
• A CoA is not authorisation. A certificate of analysis does not replace marketing authorisation or required approval.
• Promotion is restricted. Prescription medicines may only be promoted after authorisation, and only in scientific media for health professionals.

According to BPOM, non-compliant practices can harm patients and delay treatments that are proven to work. BPOM also noted reported patient cases after cell and gene therapy in China, which are still being evaluated by the authorities there.

What to ask before a treatment

1. 01Does the product have BPOM marketing authorisation? A quality certificate alone is not enough.
2. 02Is it given on a doctor's prescription? These are prescription-only medicines.
3. 03Who administers it? BPOM says therapy must be given by competent staff following proper protocols.
4. 04Is there informed consent? You have the right to a full explanation before agreeing.
5. 05Are side effects monitored and reported?

This article is not medical advice. For decisions about any therapy, consult a doctor directly.

Start with a basic routine: Kira's result

For fine lines, a consistent basic routine is often the first step. Here is a real Kira result for the question “fine lines are starting under my eyes, what anti-aging care should I use?”:

• Retinol at night, twice a week, to help reduce fine lines.
• A daily moisturiser with hyaluronic acid.
• Sunscreen every morning with SPF 30+.

Kira also suggests avoiding alcohol-based products, harsh face scrubs and heavy moisturisers. This is AI advice, not a medical diagnosis. If things do not improve within 4 weeks, see a dermatologist. For any product, keep using Cek KLIK before buying.

Read also how to prevent premature aging and how to use sunscreen correctly.

Ask Kira about anti-aging care

Send Kira a selfie in natural light on WhatsApp and ask about your skin concern. Kira suggests a routine and ingredients to look for within 10 to 15 seconds. See the anti-aging example.