Biologics

First human tendons grown in laboratory

Regenerative medicine company Orthocell Limited has announced its success in growing human tendons in a laboratory for the first time.

The findings of experiments to grow functional human tendons in a bioreactor have been presented at the Australian Society of Elbow and Shoulder Surgeons biennial conference in Melbourne this week by Orthocell’s Chief Scientific Officer, Professor M.H. Zheng. The scientific breakthrough has resulted from a collaboration between Orthocell, University of Western Australia, Curtain University, Griffith University and University and University of Auckland and was made possible through an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant.

Professor Zheng explained: “The secret to growing a human tendon graft outside the body, is to culture viable tendon cells and create the exact amount of stimulation to these cells, so that they feel at home and produce the necessary components to form tendon tissue. In the future this could represent a product to replace severely damaged tendons, complementing our exiting Ortho-ATI(TM) tendon repair product.”

The data presented by Professor Zheng also demonstrates how the Ortho-ATI(TM) product works. Professor Zheng said that “we have shown that we can grow and maintain potent and viable tendon cells in culture using the same patented cell growth technology behind Ortho-ATI(TM). The Ortho-ATI(TM) technology is not simply relieving pain and improving function, it is facilitating the growth of new tendon tissue and this focused study demonstrates that achievement.”

Dr Rocky Tuan, a world leading expert in regenerative medicine and stem cells, visiting from the US, commented on this breakthrough: “The field of regenerative medicine is advancing at a rapid pace. It is exciting to see human tendons grown in the lab that could lead to the regeneration of severely damaged tendons in the future. There is a growing clinical need for effective tendon repair. Orthocell is a leader in this space with their Ortho-ATI(TM) tendon repair treatment on the market.”

Dr Tuan is the Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Director at the Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering and Director at the Center for Military Medicine Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Orthocell is the first company globally to gain regulatory approval for its tendon repair and regeneration product Ortho-ATI(TM), which is licensed in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Orthocell continues to develop new applications for the tendon repair technology in various injury sites such as tennis elbow, Achilles and patellar tendons. The ability to grow whole tendons outside the body will augment Orthocell’s expanding capability and pipeline in the regenerative medicine area.

The successful Ortho-ATI(TM) 3-5 year results from Orthocell’s tennis elbow clinical trial were also presented at the meeting, demonstrating that Ortho-ATI(TM) is an effective non-invasive approach to the treatment of damaged and degenerated tendons.

SOURCE

Josh Sandberg

Josh Sandberg is the President and CEO of Ortho Spine Partners and sits on several company and industry related Boards. He also is the Creator and Editor of OrthoSpineNews.

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2 Comments

  1. I need new tendons and ligaments in my neck and Thoracic. My ribs are unstable from the ligament laxity causing front sternum pain when I sneeze. Big medical practice ignores all ligament damage and will not help me at ALL.
    My question is how many years until I can be helped? My C3 has over 4mm of movement with no disc problems. Can anything be done other than Prolotherapy and PRP injections? I’m not doing well. Thank You!

  2. It probably wont be for awhile…. it took them forever to get to this point, id say another good 10 to 15 years before they fully figure out how to scale the tendons to the right size… then even more for the fda to get off its ass to approve the process or who ever it is… and then itll take for ever for the clinical trials to prove if its a good option…, its gonna be awhile… ive been dealing with petellar tendonosis, tennis elbow and wrist tendon issues for year… so i understand your pain… current treatments are a waste of time and suck, antiinflammitorys just weakin the tendon… tendons are really a faild product of evolution that hardly heal right and take forever… im just 21 and really man ill probanly have this stuff for a few more years…. i really wish they would hurry up lol….

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