BioTissue Technologies AG
BioTissue AG english
Breakthrough in the development of autologous cartilage
Corporate-news announcement sent by DGAP.
The sender is solely responsible for the contents of this announcement.
——————————————————————————–
Breakthrough in the development of autologous cartilage: World-innovation
BioSeed-C emphasizes the trail-blazing position in the market for tissue
engineering (manufacture of living tissue replacement products) / Milestone in
tissue engineering offers great future and growth potential / BioTissue
Technologies AG now markets five products
Freiburg, Dec. 14, 2001 – BioTissue Technologies AG (SIN 618061), the pioneer in
manufacturing autologous tissue substitutes, has just achieved another
milestone in the Company’s history. With BioSeed-C we have for the first time
succeeded in cultivating three-dimensional cartilage substitute from autologous
cells. BioSeed-C now goes into the controlled applications phase in selected
clinics. The autologous cartilage will be used for cartilage defects in joints.
In this way, BioTissue – as forecast prior to its IPO – is already in a position
field five commercially marketable products before the end of 2001.
This patented key technology is now ready for serial production – and using it
BioTissue has already developed the autologous bone substitute BioSeed-Oral Bone
– is the result of ten years research by the group led by Dr. Michael Sittinger
at Berlin’s Charite hospital. The new procedure entails removing a small sample
of cartilage from the patient and then culturing the cartilage cells in
autologous blood plasma. Shortly prior to transplantation, the cells thus grown
are brought into contact with a scaffold that gives the cartilage substitute a
three-dimensional form. This autologous cartilage substitute can then be
inserted into the defective cartilage in the joint in the patient’s body.
First areas of application will be defects in joint cartilage caused by trauma
or in part by arthrosis. BioTissue assumes that in due course BioSeed-C will
also be used for illnesses caused by arthrosis. Since unlike other tissue, joint
cartilage can not heal itself, the market is truly enormous. “In Germany alone,
each year 50,000 knee joint injuries are operated and about 1.5 million people
suffer from arthrosis that should be treated more effectively,” explains Dr.
Wilhelm Brandner, CEO of BioTissue Technologies AG. Alongside the numerous
advantages for doctors and patients alike of using this autologous cartilage
substitute, Brandner also expects that they will offer BioTissue superb future
growth potential.
BioSeed-C has been developed by advancing the ACT cartilage tissue solution used
for several years now. ACT likewise consisted of autologous cells suspended in
a liquid that are injected into the defective area in the course of a complex
operation. This method has been performed to patient satisfaction for smaller
and carefully delimited cartilage defects.
The BioSeed-C three-dimensional cartilage replacement is, moreover, expected to
be used in defects for which there have to date been no treatment forms.
Furthermore, it is assumed that in numerous cases no open surgical intervention
in the joint will be necessary. In this way, the new method facilitates the
surgeon’s work and considerably reduces operating times. First applications with
BioSeed-C have already been conducted arthroscopically.
“Unlike prior forms of cartilage regeneration, where often the cartilage fiber
that formed was inferior, transplantation of BioSeed-C entails development of
cartilage tissue that is approximately the same as the original cartilage
matter. The improved tissue formation is achieved by complete three-dimensional
spread of the cells across the entire defective area,” explains Sittinger.
In addition, the patient’s body does not reject the autologous BioSeed-C
cartilage replacement. In the long run, the combination of autologous cells and
a corresponding scaffold could possibly also be used to cultivate additional
types of cartilage and bone through to vessels, nerves and muscles.
“Following the market launch of BioSeed-Oral Bone in November 2001 we have now
created another tissue engineering innovation with the BioSeed-C cartilage
replacement product. We have thus again proven that we are leading innovators in
this market, which promises to have a strong future,” claims Brandner.
BioTissue Technologies AG is specialized in manufacturing tissue engineering
products made from autologous cells. At present, BioTissue books sales with skin
replacement products BioSeed-S and MelanoSeed, the oral mucosa replacement
product BioSeed-M and bone replacement product BioSeed-Oral Bone.
Questions? BioTissue Technologies AG, Martin Braendle, +49-761-7676110,
martin.braendle@biotissue-tec.com, http://www.biotissue-tec.com
end of message, (c)DGAP 14.12.2001
Latest News
Latest Reports
No Reports found
Upcoming Events
No Events found
Webcasts
No Webcasts found