NEW research by Australian biotechnology company Magellan Stem Cells shows promising therapeutic benefits of an off-the-shelf donor stem cell therapy for a debilitating knee joint disease.
"One in five Australians over 45 suffer with osteoarthritis (OA)and the only treatment options available to most are pain relief drugs, prescribed exercise, and joint replacement surgery," said lead researcher A/Prof Freitag.
He explained that appropriately developed and regulated stem cell treatments have the potential to change all that, providing a more effective, less painful, longer lasting and affordable option.
"Our research indicates that Magellan's off-the-shelf donor stem cell treatment is safe and effective in improving joint function, reducing pain levels, and may potentially halt the progression of osteoarthritis," explained Freitag.
The Phase I/II clinical trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of MAG200, an allogeneic (donor) stem cell therapy, specifically for osteoarthritis of the knee.
Key findings from the trial include a sustained pain improvement of 58% after 12 months, and a doubling of quality-of-life scores for patients receiving the stem cell treatment.
"The trial also indicated that Magellan's cell therapy may delay or prevent the progression of osteoarthritis, with observed improvement in cartilage volume in patients receiving stem cell treatment, while the placebo group showed either no change or disease progression," A/Prof Freitag noted.
A long-term follow-up of this double-blind, ascending dose, randomised-controlled trial revealed that improvements from a single injection of donor stem cells were maintained beyond four years in patients.
He added that the trial provides a solid evidence base to justify further research.
The research findings have been published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open, the open-access journal of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International, which publishes evidence-based, international consensus guidelines on osteoarthritis management. JG
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