Positive Results From Stem Cell Trial for Knee Osteoarthritis – Pain News Network

By Pat Anson, PNN Editor

A California stem cell company has announced positive results from a small, early-stage clinical trial of an experimental stem cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis.

The Phase 1/2a trial conducted by Personalized Stem Cells (PSC) involved 39 patients with knee osteoarthritis who were given a single injection of autologous mesenchymal stem cells derived from their own body fat. Safety was the primary objective of the trial and there were no serious adverse events reported by the company.

The secondary objective of the trial was to assess the effectiveness of the therapy with the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), a survey that asks patients about their pain, other symptoms, daily function, quality of life, and recreational activities. Nearly 80% of study participants improved above the minimal important change (MIC), with an average improvement over baseline of 2.2 times the MIC.

Osteoarthritis is a progressive joint disorder caused by painful inflammation of soft tissue, which leads to thinning of cartilage and joint damage in the knees, hips, fingers and spine.

Results from the PSC study have been submitted to the FDA for review. The company hopes to get approval for a larger, Phase 2 randomized study of its stem cell therapy later this year.

We are pleased at the strong safety profile and efficacy results in this FDA-approved clinical study of stem cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis, said PSC founder and CEO, Dr. Bob Harman. We are proud to have reached this milestone in our first FDA approved clinical trial. This data supports our progress in the larger placebo-controlled clinical study.

While the FDA has approved hundreds of clinical trials of stem cells, it has not approved a single stem cell product as a treatment for arthritis or any orthopedic condition. That hasnt stopped stem cell clinics from offering regenerative medicine to patients or veterinarians from using it on animals.

VetStem Biopharma, the parent company of PSC, pioneered the use of adipose derived stem cells in veterinary medicine. Its laboratory has processed stem cells for nearly 14,000 dogs, cats, horses and other animals for use by veterinarians in the U.S. and Canada.

The 15 years of veterinary experience with adipose derived stem cell therapy of our parent company, VetStem Biopharma, provided the basis for our FDA study submission and approval and provided valuable insights into the study design and conduct, said Harman.

In addition to the Phase 2 trial for osteoarthritis, PSC plans to pursue FDA approval for a stem cell trial to treat traumatic brain injuries in humans. A clinical study using PSCs stem cell platform to treat respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19 patients is currently underway.

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Positive Results From Stem Cell Trial for Knee Osteoarthritis - Pain News Network