Injection of Donor Cells Gives Long-Term Relief from Degenerative Disc Disease
/By Pat Anson, PNN Editor
A single injection of cells and fluid derived from human donor tissue was successful long-term in relieving pain and restoring physical function in patients with degenerative disc disease, according to new research presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology in Phoenix.
The injections, known as viable disc allograft supplementation, encourage cells in damaged discs to regenerate with healthy tissue. Degenerative disc disease is one of the leading causes of chronic lower back pain.
“The significant improvement in pain and function is promising for patients living with chronic low back pain – a condition that can greatly impact a person’s quality of life,” said lead author Douglas Beall, MD, chief of radiology at Clinical Radiology of Oklahoma. “Back pain is the leading cause of limited activity and workplace absenteeism. This treatment may help patients return to a normal activity level for a longer period time.”
Fifty patients participated in the VAST trial, with 46 patients receiving allograft treatment and four receiving saline injections as a placebo. VIVEX Biologics, a regenerative medicine company that processes donated cells and tissue to treat musculoskeletal injuries, wounds and burns, sponsored the study.
After three years, 60 percent of patients who received allograft treatment reported more than 50% improvement in pain and 70% had significant improvement in their function scores. No patients suffered adverse effects.
In healthy patients, discs cushion the spine’s vertebrae, facilitating movement and flexibility. But discs can wear out over time and cause the bones of the spine to rub together and pinch nerves, causing pain and disability. By age 60, most people have at least some disc degeneration.
“Existing treatment for chronic low back pain due to degenerative disc disease is often ineffective or the effects are short-lived,” said Beall, who is a medical consultant for VIVEX. “We need better treatments for this condition since conservative care is not providing the long-term outcomes that patients deserve. Injectable allograft treatment might be the answer for many people.”
Beall says allograft injections could decrease the use of pain medication by patients with chronic lower back pain. The treatment requires no incisions and patients are able to go home on the same day.
Other companies are also developing new injections to treat degenerative disc disease. In clinical trials, Australia-based Mesoblast says injections of its proprietary stem cell product provided long-term relief for people with lower back pain caused by disc disease. The company recently announced the FDA designated its stem cell injection as a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy, which is designed to help speed up its development.
Injections of an experimental gel developed by ReGelTec also show promise as a treatment for disc disease. The hydrogel is heated before injection to more easily fill cracks and tears in the affected discs. When the gel cools and hardens, it helps restore the disc’s structural integrity.
