A clinical trial has begun at Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, aiming to evaluate the use of a patient’s own stem cells to regenerate knee cartilage, in order to help heal massive knee cartilage injuries.
“In the United States, there are currently no proven treatment options that utilize stem cells to regenerate a patient’s knee cartilage once it has deteriorated,” explains study leader Adam Anz, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at Andrews Institute, in a media release. “This clinical trial is a monumental step to get FDA-approved stem cell technology to our patients.”
The study is being conducted in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Sports Medicine Center (KLSMC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and will be funded in part by the Malaysian government. It will attempt to replicate outcomes from clinical treatments currently available to patients in Malaysia using a cartilage regeneration technology developed by Dr Khay-Yong Saw, an orthopaedic surgeon who practices at KLSMC, according to the release.
“The whole concept of regenerating cartilage is totally different from what’s being used now to treat damaged cartilage,” Saw says. “We are hoping this study will help the FDA evaluate the safety and the effectiveness of this clinical application.”
The study could take up to 6 years, the researchers note. However, it could be stopped sooner if the results show statistical significance.
[Source(s): Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, PR Newswire]
