Australian Company Grows Human Tendons!

Orthocell Limited, an Australian regenerative medicine company, has announced that it has succeeded in growing human tendons in a laboratory for the first time. These efforts were led by Professor M.H. Zheng, Orthocell’s chief scientific officer and the Winthrop Professor and Director of Research at the Translational Orthopaedic Research Centre at the University of Western Australia.

Also collaborating on this effort to grow functional human tendons in a bioreactor Curtain University, Griffith University and University and University of Auckland and was made possible through an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant.

In the November 6, 2014 news release 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 tendon repair product.”

Professor Zheng said, “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. The Ortho-ATI 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.”

Rocky Tuan, Ph.D. 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. He 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 tendon repair treatment on the market.”

According to Orthocell, it is the first company globally to gain regulatory approval for its tendon repair and regeneration product Ortho-ATI, which is licensed in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.