Cartilage Repair: Bridging the Gap
Article preview reprinted Medtech Insight - May, 2009
With the era of regenerative medicine upon us, fueled in part by the Obama administration's lifting of the ban on government funding for stem cell research, advancements in biological approaches to orthopedic joint restoration are in the forefront. Most orthopedic surgeons believe that the future treatment of musculoskeletal problems no longer lies in replacing joints with metallic implants but in the development of curative therapies involving cells, growth factors, and other bioactive agents capable of regenerating bone, cartilage, and other joint structures. Although such products are still in the early stages of development, there has been a recent surge of interest in this area. Based on the wealth of new technologies presented at this year's American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons meeting held recently in Las Vegas, it is clear that stakeholders in this industry are in hot pursuit of this opportunity, which could one day be measured in the billions of dollars. Find out more...
Cartilage Repair: Bridging the Gap
Article preview reprinted Medtech Insight - May, 2009
With the era of regenerative medicine upon us, fueled in part by the Obama administration's lifting of the ban on government funding for stem cell research, advancements in biological approaches to orthopedic joint restoration are in the forefront. Most orthopedic surgeons believe that the future treatment of musculoskeletal problems no longer lies in replacing joints with metallic implants but in the development of curative therapies involving cells, growth factors, and other bioactive agents capable of regenerating bone, cartilage, and other joint structures.
Research in this arena spans over four decades, starting with the discovery of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) in the 1970s. This was followed by the development, commercialization, and eventual bust of technologies (eg, PTFE, carbon fiber, Dacron, bovine xenografts) for ligament and tendon replacement in the 1980s, and the introduction of joint fluid replacement therapy (Synvisc) and the first cell-based therapy, Carticel, for cartilage repair, both from Genzyme Corp., in the 1990s. It took until early this decade for this labor to reach fruition, with the launch of two blockbuster products: Medtronic Inc.'s INFUSE BMP-2, the first BMP product approved for spinal indications, and Genzyme's Synvisc, a sodium hyaluronate product for relieving joint pain in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis (OA) that was recently approved as a single injection treatment.
But the real payoff could come in the next decade and beyond as the next frontier in biological joint resurfacing—technologies that bridge the gap between palliative treatments for cartilage injuries and joint replacement—becomes a clinical reality. Although such products are still in the early stages of development, there has been a recent surge of interest in this area. Based on the wealth of new technologies presented at this year's American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) meeting held recently in Las Vegas, NV, it is clear that stakeholders in this industry are in hot pursuit of this opportunity, which could one day be measured in the billions of dollars.
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Companies mentioned in this article:
AlloSource
Fidia Advanced Biopolymers SRL
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp.
Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation
Medtech Insight delivers the quality content you need on medical technologies impacting the spectrum of surgical, orthopedic, cardiovascular, and other markets. Written and edited by seasoned industry participants and experts, the Medtech Insight newsletter provides insights into the technology and market developments (devices, instrumentation, biomaterials, gene therapy, tissue engineering, etc.) impacting a wide range of surgical and non-surgical clinical practices (cardiothoracic & vascular surgery, general surgery, orthopedics & spine surgery, interventional radiology/cardiology, etc.). Learn more at www.medtechinsight.com.
