ELA Cells and Cartilage Regeneration

As there are currently no effective long-term treatments for osteoarthritis or degenerative cartilage conditions, absent total joint replacement, regeneration of articular cartilage represents the holy grail of orthopedic medicine.

Moreover, other types of cartilage injury, such as acute chondral defects, are extremely prevalent in both sporting and skeletally immature populations. Studies conducted by both Parcell and independent laboratories indicate that ELA cells can be induced to differentiate into chondrocytes (the cells that make up cartilage) in vitro and this differentiation occurs in a manner ~3 times more efficiently than MSCs.

On the basis of these data, Parcell has initiated collaborative studies with New England Baptist Hospital and other institutions to evaluate the use of ELA cells as a treatment for osteoarthritis and acute cartilage injury, respectively.