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Stem Cells Show Long Lasting Effect In Knee Osteoarthritis
26 May 2008
Source: Mesoblast – the adult stem cell company
Australian adult stem cell company Mesoblast Limited has just announced successful long-term results in its osteoarthritis pre-clinical trials.
A single injection of its ‘off-the-shelf' adult stem cells into arthritic knees provided sustained protection against cartilage destruction and degeneration for up to nine months.
On the basis on these results, Mesoblast will proceed with its Phase 2 clinical trial programme for cartilage protection in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Mesoblast's allogeneic cells were safe and effective over a wide range of doses tested at 3, 6 and 12 months in 60 sheep with knee osteoarthritis. The dose which showed maximal effectiveness and superiority over hyaluronic acid alone in protecting cartilage at 3 months, continued to show superiority for between 6 and 12 months. In addition, a 10-fold lower dose of cells showed significant and superior effectiveness against cartilage loss for at least 9 months when administered into the damaged knee in the absence of joint inflammation.
"These results are outstanding and indicate that Mespblast's cells may provide long-term sustained protection against knee cartilage damage in osteoarthritis, in contrast to alternative therapies that are currently on the market," said Professor Peter Ghosh, world-renowned cartilage expert.
Current therapies attempt to alleviate painful symptoms but are unable to preserve the cartilage lining the joint. In addition, many of the currently used pharmaceutical therapies are associated with severe side effects. Joint replacement is often the only option for restoring function.
"If the clinical results continue to parallel the results we have obtained to date, we will have a unique product for long-term knee cartilage protection and regeneration in osteoarthritis" Professor Itescu said.
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