·        Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and a major cause of pain and disability in adult individuals. Systemic inflammation observed in OA is partially reflective of local synovial inflammation. Common treatments for OA include agents for control of pain and inflammation, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics including opioids, locally administered corticosteroids and viscosupplementation.

·        Cellular therapy is an emerging modality for the treatment of OA. Administration of stem cells with anti-inflammatory function may be effective at preventing or delaying OA if delivered at early stages in the disease process. Human umbilical cord stem cell therapy is safe and effective for articular cartilage regeneration in patients with osteoarthritic knees.

·        BHI Therapeutic Sciences is planning to submit an Investigator-led, research only Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the use of FDA-approved cell therapy (Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells (HPC), cord blood) in the treatment of osteoarthritis. This prospective, open-label, single-center, exploratory clinical study will be designed to characterize the safety and efficacy profile of HPC, cord blood, when administered by intra-articular injection and intravenous infusion, in subjects with OA.

·        The application of stem cell therapy in the sports medicine arena has expanded in recent years. Orthobiologics are biological substances that orthopaedic surgeons use to help musculoskeletal injuries heal quicker. More information regarding advantages of Orthobiologiscs in sport regenerative medicine can be found in the article “Orthobiologics: What do Athletes Need to Know about Stem Cell Therapies?”

What do Athletes Need to Know about Stem Cell Therapies?