First human study of pioneering 'cell bandage' technology

A company co-founded by Professor Anthony Hollander has raised over £1.6 million to fund trials, including the first human study, of its pioneering 'cell bandage' technology, which aims to save thousands of patients from the type of knee surgery that currently leads to premature osteoarthritis.

Based in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Professor Hollander came to national prominence as part of the academic team that saved the life of Claudia Castillio, after developing the first tissue-engineered trachea (windpipe) using the patient's own stem cells. This fully functioning airway was transplanted into the patient and saved her life.

Azellon is now developing the first commercially practical applications of that same fundamental technology to create 'cell bandages' that can be transplanted into a damaged knee meniscus, helping to regenerate the joint, and saving the patient from future surgery and potentially debilitating osteoarthritis. It will develop a 'cell bandage' grown from the patient's own stem cells, and transplant it in the patient's knee joint within three weeks of extracting the stem cells from bone marrow.

The technology is believed to be the world's first adult and autologous (patient's own) stem cell treatment of meniscal tears.

More than 1.7 million people globally are estimated to have a part of or the full meniscus removed per annum making it a common orthopaedic procedure. Partial or full removal of the meniscus (menisectomy) can provide significant pain relief within 3-5 months in most patients. It is, however, also well documented that 4-6 years after menisectomy, osteoarthritic changes are noticeable in the knee of many patients, often leading to further joint surgery including total knee replacement.

Company co-founder and Managing Director Troels Jordansen said:

'Azellon's technology is unique and has the potential to change the long term clinical outcome for thousands of patients who have parts of or the full meniscus removed with dire long term outcome. A unique element of the Azellon technology is that no tissue will be removed.'

Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, MBE, a past sufferer of a torn meniscus agrees:

'If a stem cell treatment had been available for my injury, I might not have suffered the pain and discomfort that has become steadily worse over the past few years. As an athlete I am very excited about the possibility of this common sporting injury being healed with the patient's own stem cells.'

Azellon has raised the money from a consortium of funders that includes the Wellcome Trust, the Technology Strategy Board, IP Group, the Wyvern Fund, Oxford Technology Management and the Universities of Bristol and Bath.

The £1.6 million raised will be invested in 3 pre-clinical trials covering safety, bio-distribution and cell fate, which will be carried out by University College London (UCL). In 2010 Azellon will initiate a human pilot study in Bristol.

'The cell bandage is a rare example of fundamental university research being developed for the benefit of patients,' said Azellon Chief Scientific Officer Professor Anthony Hollander.

'We are grateful not only to our investors, but to the funders of our research programme. The possibilities for tissue engineering from adult stem cells are enormous, and the University of Bristol is one of the world leaders in this field.'