TELTOW, Germany, Sept. 30, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- co.don(R) AG: Berlin neurosurgeons treat for the first time worldwide degenerated cervical intervertebral disc by ADCT and Autologous disc-derived cell transplant -- co.don chondrotransplant(R) DISC.
A neurosurgeon team of International Spine Center Berlin led by Dr. M. Sabarini treated first time worldwide degenerated cervical intervertebral disc by Autologous disc-derived cell transplantion (ADCT) using Autologous disc-derived cultured chondrocytes of co.don(R) AG - co.don chondrotransplant(R) DISC.
Degeneration of cervical disc is common in adult patients, however already 20-years old patients show fissures due to progressive shrinking and deterioration of disc. Progressive disc degeneration leads to osteochondrosis or a herniated disc of cervical spine.
The gold standard of surgical management is the removal of disc and fusion of adjacent vertebrae by using auologous/allogenic bone as well as titanium implants. Lack of motion in affected spine segment, progressive degeneration of adjacent discs and frequent recidives of discus hernia are largest disadvantages of the treatment. Today artifical discs from titanium or polymers become available which allow partial preservation of cervical spine motion, however they can not replace biological function of natural disc.
With its Autologous Disc-derived transplantation (ADCT) co.don(R)AG offer an innovative therapy for biological repair of disc using autologous disc-derived cultured chondrocytes -- co.don chondrotransplant(R)DISC.
The excellent preclinical results in a canine study in collaboration with Emory Spine Center, the results of pilot study from Dr. Meisel, BG Halle, Germany, as well as 5-6- years clinical outcome of pilot study of Dr. Gerber in Switzerland about efficacy of ADCT-treatment of herniated lumbar discs are basis for future use of ADCT as a first-line surgical treatment of herniated cervical disc.
The ADCT treatment includes the transplantation of in vitro cultured intervertebral disc-derived chondrocytes- co.don chondrotransplant(R) DISC after surgical removal of discus hernia- sequestrectomy.
co.don chondrotransplant(R) DISC is innovative cell-based therapeutics indicated for the biological repair of degenerated intervertebral disc - biological nucleus replacement..
20% of all workday losses and 50% of all early retirements in Germany are due to degenerative disc disease. 50% of the population over 50 years old are suffering on herniated disc, every third of them on herniated cervical disc. More than 100.000 surgical removal of discus hernia are performed per year in Germany. The myelopathy and spinal cord injuires are number one reason for workday loss of 55-year old people in Europe and USA.
The market for orthopedic biomaterials in the USA is about $ 1.4 billion by annual growth rate at 20%. Markt potential in Europe is about $ 230 million in Europe by annual growth rate at at 60%.
Management
co.don(R) AG is one of the leading enterprises in the area of Regenerative Medicine/Tissue Engineering. Since 1997, co.don(R) AG develops, manufactures and distributes cell-based biological drugs for the regeneration of cartilage, bone and intervertebral discs. The enterprise is headquartered in Teltow, near Berlin, Germany. For more information, please visit www.codon.de