Zimmer ‘living tissue graft’ approved for trials

Zimmer has been given the go-ahead by the US FDA for the commencement of trials for its Neocartilage technology, developed in conjunction with ISTO Technologies.

Neocartilage is a technology that creates living tissue derived from cartilage cells known as juvenile chrondocytes. Because cartilage has only a restricted ability to heal on its own, degradation can occur through injury or naturally over time, eventually causing the onset of joint diseases like arthritis. Neocartilage is designed to replace worn or damaged cartilage and enable to the joint to function properly.

Zimmer plans to market the product as DeNovo ET Live Chrondal Engineered Tissue Graft.

Ray Elliot, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Zimmer, remarked: “Zimmer has made biologics the centrepiece of our innovative investment strategy and we are pleased to have continued our equity investments in ISTO and reached this very concrete milestone in the development of our plans.”

Dr Mitchell Seyedin, ISTO’s president and chief executive officer, added: “We are delighted both to have been given the go-ahead by the regulatory authorities to advance Neocartilage into clinical development, and to be collaborating with the world’s leading orthopaedic company to achieve this significant milestone.”

Last November, a group of researchers from the Imperial College London announced that they had grown cartilage cells by using stem cells, placed alongside existing cartilage cells.

Dr Archana Vats, first author of the research, stated: “The ability to grow cartilage using stem cells could have enormous implications for a number of medical problems.” However, it may be five years before the technique can be used to benefit patients directly.

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