So, Why Are Cartilage Scientists Getting Excited?
Given that short history, why then are three of the top cartilage repair scientists in the world excited about a specific ongoing FDA cartilage repair clinical study which, in their own words, may be the most impactful new development in cartilage repair and, by extension, the $7 billion a year business of treating painful, impaired knees in, well, 25 years?
We’re referring to:
Elizaveta Kon, M.D., Ph.D.: Associated Professor of Humanitas University, Orthopaedic surgeon on Center of Functional and Biological Reconstruction of the knee, Humanitas Research Hospital, full professor of Orthopaedic Surgery on First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia. 2nd Vice President of the International Cartilage Regeneration & Joint Preservation Society (ICRS), author of over 200 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and over 30 chapters in textbooks in orthopedic surgery, Associated Editor of International Orthopedics, Journal of Experimental Orthopedics and Joints.
Kenneth Zaslav, M.D.: Orthopedic surgeon with Ortho Virginia, one of the largest private Orthopedic multi-specialty groups in the U.S. Clinical Professor at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University, immediate Past President of The International Cartilage Repair Society, visiting professor in medical schools in China, Chile, Mexico and Venezuela, Past President of Advanced Orthopaedics and board certified orthopedic surgeon in Virginia.
Peter Verdonk, M.D., Ph.D.: Specialist knee surgeon (Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent, Belgium) and researcher at the Antwerp University and the Monica Research Institute. Visiting surgeon at the Aspetar Hospital in Doha, Qatar and an attending surgeon and professor at the Antwerp University Hospital. His Ph.D. thesis was “The Human Meniscus: characterization, transplantation and tissue engineering.” He is author of more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and lectures internationally.
And the clinical study they are excited about is NOT about “stem cells,” PRP, autologous chondrocytes transplantation or even OATS (osteoarticular transfer system) or HA (hyaluronic acid). It’s about a novel implant that is in a paradigm shifting clinical study for the treatment of joint surface lesions, including, cartilage and osteochondral defects in both arthritic and non-arthritic joints. Extremely interesting.
