From funding to FDA clearances, here are six key developments in orthopedic regenerative medicine since March 7.
1. SurGenTec's OsteoFlo hydroputty synthetic bone graft earned 510(k) clearance from the FDA. The bone graft has proprietary hydrophilic carriers designed to absorb fluids and is optimized for bone growth.
2. Cassandra Lee, MD, became one of the first surgeons in the U.S. to use the CartiHeal Agili-C cartilage repair implant. The Agili-C implant is made from a form of calcium carbonate derived from coral exoskeletons and is used to support bone remodeling and cartilage regeneration.
3. A man who was paralyzed seven years ago can walk and stand on his own after taking part in a stem cell study at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic. Chris Barr was in a study that collected stem cells from his stomach fat, expanded them in a lab and injected them into his lumbar spine. Mr. Barr was paralyzed seven years ago and underwent stem cell treatment for five years. He was the first of 10 patients in Mayo Clinic's study on stem cell therapy in spinal cord injuries.
4. Regenerative therapeutics company Theradaptive has appointed Frank Vizesi, PhD, as its chief scientific officer. Dr. Vizesi has over 20 years of experience in orthobiologics and spinal fusion, holding leadership roles at Orthofix, SeaSpine and NuVasive
5. Orthobiologics developer OssDsign was awarded a contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide products for an additional 100 VA hospitals nationwide. OssDsign first entered into a distribution and pricing agreement in 2021 that has gradually been expanded. With the new contract, OssDsign will cover all VA orthopedic hospitals nationwide.
6. The University of California Los Angeles is part of a multi-institution research team that earned a contract of up to $33 million to develop treatments for joint regeneration for osteoarthritis. UCLA's cut of up to $12.3 million is part of the federal Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health's funding. The money will support the development of new therapies with a goal of completing FDA phase 1 clinical trials within the next five years.