Histogenics (NASDAQ:HSGX) announced the online peer-reviewed publication in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research that analyzes mechanical properties of tissue engineered cartilage based on work done as part of a sponsored-research agreement between Histogenics and Dr. Lawrence Bonassar at Cornell University.
The objective of the study was to understand the complex mechanical behavior, function and changes that occur in human chondrocyte-seeded collagen constructs during in vitro culture, using multiple mechanical tests, which measure the compressive, frictional and shear properties of the constructs.
This study was the first to examine the measurement of all three of these properties in human chondrocyte seeded constructs, and is intended to respond to FDA guidance related to the generation of biomechanical or structural data for cartilage implants.
“We are excited to continue building our scientific understanding of the hyaline cartilage like properties of our tissue engineered product, NeoCart, and intend to use the data from these tests to support the Biologics License Application for NeoCart,” Stephen Kennedy, CTO of Histogenics, said in a statement.
He said the data generated in this study provide additional evidence of the importance of the combination of cells, engineering and scaffold to produce mechanically competent cartilage tissue implants with additional unique friction and compression properties that allow for proper function.
NeoCart’s unique ability to generate these characteristics prior to implantation is important, and we believe correlates nicely with the recently published clinical pain and functional data from the combined Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials for NeoCart, Mr. Kennedy said.
“Taken together, these results may indicate that tissue engineered implants, such as NeoCart, may enable a more rapid recovery and return to function for patients suffering from cartilage defects,” he added.
