Orthocell approved for tennis elbow study

Regenerative medicine company Orthocell (ASX:OCC) has received ethics approval to conduct a study comparing surgery for severe tennis elbow to the company’s minimally invasive cell therapy Ortho-ATI injection. Approval was received from The Avenue Hospital in Melbourne, following the publication of Orthocell’s positive pilot study results last year in The American Journal of Sports Medicine.

The study is designed to show that a single non-invasive treatment of Ortho-ATI is superior or equivalent to the more costly and invasive surgical intervention for the repair of severe, treatment-resistant lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). This program will support the continued demonstration of clinical efficacy and the cost-effectiveness of Ortho-ATI as a minimally invasive injectable treatment for resistant tendon injuries of the elbow. 

“As the population ages and degenerate tendon conditions become much more prevalent, doctors and patients are seeking cost-effective, minimally invasive and evidenced-based treatments to alleviate symptoms that affect their mobility and quality of life,” said Orthocell Chief Scientific Officer Professor Ming Hao Zheng. “This study is an important step toward validating Ortho-ATI as a viable alternative to surgery.”

The study will be conducted by two of Australia’s leading elbow surgeons, with patient recruitment set to commence in Q3 2016. Orthocell Managing Director Paul Anderson said he expects “a repeat of the results that showed Ortho-ATI was a durable, curative and cost-effective treatment for degenerate tennis elbow injuries”.

Orthocell (ASX:OCC) shares were trading 6.35% higher at $0.335 as of around 12.30 pm on Tuesday.