Stem Cells Used to Successfully Treat Chronic Achilles Tendon Injury
Ocala, FL, October 06, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Biologic Therapies, Inc. (BTI), a company that specializes in the design and development of medical devices and procedures for the regenerative medicine market, announced today that its products have been used to successfully treat a chronically injured Achilles tendon with stem cell therapy.
A case report, titled ‘Minimally Invasive Autologous Bone Marrow Concentrate Stem Cells in the Treatment of the Chronically Injured Achilles Tendon: A Case Report’, was authored by Biologic Therapies’ Chief Medical Director, Dr. R. Wade McKenna, and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Neil H. Riordan, founders of the Riordan-McKenna Institute in Southlake, Texas, USA (www.rmiclinic.com).
The case involved a 56-year-old female patient complaining of a painful “knot” in her left Achilles tendon. The pain limited her ability to perform daily activities such as shopping or being up on her feet for longer than 30 minutes. She had been an active tennis player and recreational athlete, but had not been able to play tennis or jog for ten years. She reported significant pain when relaxing and great pain when walking. The patient had been to multiple physicians and had followed ten years of standard treatment with stretches and anti-inflammatories. She refused multiple offers of invasive surgery that could not promise a return to tennis.
On physical examination by Dr. R. Wade McKenna, the patient had a large, palpable knot in the Achilles tendon, very noticeable and acutely tender. An MRI scan showed severe hypertrophic changes with marked tendinopathy.
The patient received a point-of-care stem cell therapy treatment in Dr. McKenna’s office as an outpatient procedure using Biologic Therapies products. The physician drew bone marrow from her tibia (shin) bone, processed the marrow in a centrifuge to concentrate the stem cells and growth factors, then injected the stem cells and growth factors into and around her injured Achilles tendon. Prior to the injection of the concentrated stem cells and growth factors, an injection of local anesthesia was given to prevent pain. The patient reported little to no pain during or after the procedure.
After six weeks the patient reported no pain at rest and minimal pain while walking. After eight weeks, there was even less pain while walking. The knot was less than 50% of the pre-treatment size and was relatively non-tender to touch. She was back to playing tennis without significant pain or difficulty. After ten weeks the patient was doing much better. An MRI scan showed even more reduction in the size of the knot, and pain was reduced even further. After 32 weeks an MRI scan showed near complete healing of the treated Achilles tendon.
The case report has been published by the scientific journal, CELLR4, the Official Journal of The Cure Alliance. The report can be seen on the CELLR4 website at www.cellr4.org/article/1100.
According to Luke Whalen, Biologic Therapies’ CEO, “This is an extremely important development for Biologic Therapies. The case report shows that stem cell therapy is an effective treatment for chronic Achilles tendon injury, which has not been documented before. The report also shows that stem cell therapy for this type of injury can be administered in a physician’s office as a point-of-care outpatient procedure using Biologic Therapies products. There is no need for hospitalization and surgery as would have been the case previously.
“Another important aspect of the publication of this case report is that the scientific journal it was published by is one of the most prestigious publications in the regenerative medicine industry. The members of the CELLR4 Journal Editorial Board that reviewed and approved the report are literally the ‘who’s who’ of regenerative medicine professionals from around the world. We are honored that they chose to publish the report. This helps to reinforce Biologic Therapies’ position as a global leader in regenerative medicine,” said Whalen.
The CELLR4 Editorial Board is led by Editor in Chief, Camillo Ricordi from the Cell Transplant Center and Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA. Other editorial staff of note include the Associate Editor for Asia, Jianming Tan of Fuzhou General Hospital, Xiamen University, China; Assistant Editor, Antonello Pileggi of the Cell Transplant Center and Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA; and Assistant Board member Arnold I. Caplan from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
In the late 1980’s, Dr. Arnold Caplan and colleagues developed and patented the technology to isolate adult human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow and to preserve their multi-potency (Caplan et al., 2001; Koc et al., 1999; Lennon et al., 2006). Adult human MSCs are capable of differentiating into a number of tissue types including bone, cartilage, muscle, marrow, tendon, ligament, adipocytes, and connective tissue.
Over 100 scientists, physicians, researchers and educators from around the world make up the CELLR4 Editorial Board. A complete listing of the Board members can be found at www.cellr4.org/editorial-board
About CELLR4
CELLR4 (www.cellr4.org) is a scientific journal with particular focus on cellular repair, replacement, regeneration, reprogramming and differentiation. Its scope ranges from fundamental new discoveries in basic science to translational, clinical trials and delivery of novel therapeutic options. As the official journal of the international non-profit organization The Cure Alliance, CELLR4 serves as a platform for discussion of challenges and opportunities on the path to the development of new treatments, independently from the disease target. CELLR4 publishes commentaries and opinion papers on regulatory, legal, and ethical issues, as well as information on global collaborative platforms and funding opportunities of interest to the field.
CELLR4 also serves as the official journal of the Fondazione Cure Alliance Onlus, another non-profit international organization that include physicians, scientists, patients, patient advocates, business and philanthropy leaders, with the mission to promote collaborative efforts worldwide, while addressing and working to resolve impediments and challenges on the path to develop cures for diseases now afflicting humankind. In this direction, the publication serves as a shared communication platform to discuss challenges and opportunities on the path to develop new treatments.
About Biologic Therapies
Based in Ocala, Florida, Biologic Therapies, Inc. (www.biologictherapies.com), is a company with a principal strategy of seeking out and developing innovative, proprietary and patented technologies to meet the needs of the rapidly emerging science of regenerative medicine, including stem cell therapy. Biologic Therapies provides groundbreaking medical technologies that significantly enhance the body’s natural healing ability, thereby providing patients with improved outcomes and quicker restoration of function. The Company’s products provide access to the biologics / regenerative medicine sector of the healthcare market.
A case report, titled ‘Minimally Invasive Autologous Bone Marrow Concentrate Stem Cells in the Treatment of the Chronically Injured Achilles Tendon: A Case Report’, was authored by Biologic Therapies’ Chief Medical Director, Dr. R. Wade McKenna, and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Neil H. Riordan, founders of the Riordan-McKenna Institute in Southlake, Texas, USA (www.rmiclinic.com).
The case involved a 56-year-old female patient complaining of a painful “knot” in her left Achilles tendon. The pain limited her ability to perform daily activities such as shopping or being up on her feet for longer than 30 minutes. She had been an active tennis player and recreational athlete, but had not been able to play tennis or jog for ten years. She reported significant pain when relaxing and great pain when walking. The patient had been to multiple physicians and had followed ten years of standard treatment with stretches and anti-inflammatories. She refused multiple offers of invasive surgery that could not promise a return to tennis.
On physical examination by Dr. R. Wade McKenna, the patient had a large, palpable knot in the Achilles tendon, very noticeable and acutely tender. An MRI scan showed severe hypertrophic changes with marked tendinopathy.
The patient received a point-of-care stem cell therapy treatment in Dr. McKenna’s office as an outpatient procedure using Biologic Therapies products. The physician drew bone marrow from her tibia (shin) bone, processed the marrow in a centrifuge to concentrate the stem cells and growth factors, then injected the stem cells and growth factors into and around her injured Achilles tendon. Prior to the injection of the concentrated stem cells and growth factors, an injection of local anesthesia was given to prevent pain. The patient reported little to no pain during or after the procedure.
After six weeks the patient reported no pain at rest and minimal pain while walking. After eight weeks, there was even less pain while walking. The knot was less than 50% of the pre-treatment size and was relatively non-tender to touch. She was back to playing tennis without significant pain or difficulty. After ten weeks the patient was doing much better. An MRI scan showed even more reduction in the size of the knot, and pain was reduced even further. After 32 weeks an MRI scan showed near complete healing of the treated Achilles tendon.
The case report has been published by the scientific journal, CELLR4, the Official Journal of The Cure Alliance. The report can be seen on the CELLR4 website at www.cellr4.org/article/1100.
According to Luke Whalen, Biologic Therapies’ CEO, “This is an extremely important development for Biologic Therapies. The case report shows that stem cell therapy is an effective treatment for chronic Achilles tendon injury, which has not been documented before. The report also shows that stem cell therapy for this type of injury can be administered in a physician’s office as a point-of-care outpatient procedure using Biologic Therapies products. There is no need for hospitalization and surgery as would have been the case previously.
“Another important aspect of the publication of this case report is that the scientific journal it was published by is one of the most prestigious publications in the regenerative medicine industry. The members of the CELLR4 Journal Editorial Board that reviewed and approved the report are literally the ‘who’s who’ of regenerative medicine professionals from around the world. We are honored that they chose to publish the report. This helps to reinforce Biologic Therapies’ position as a global leader in regenerative medicine,” said Whalen.
The CELLR4 Editorial Board is led by Editor in Chief, Camillo Ricordi from the Cell Transplant Center and Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA. Other editorial staff of note include the Associate Editor for Asia, Jianming Tan of Fuzhou General Hospital, Xiamen University, China; Assistant Editor, Antonello Pileggi of the Cell Transplant Center and Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA; and Assistant Board member Arnold I. Caplan from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
In the late 1980’s, Dr. Arnold Caplan and colleagues developed and patented the technology to isolate adult human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow and to preserve their multi-potency (Caplan et al., 2001; Koc et al., 1999; Lennon et al., 2006). Adult human MSCs are capable of differentiating into a number of tissue types including bone, cartilage, muscle, marrow, tendon, ligament, adipocytes, and connective tissue.
Over 100 scientists, physicians, researchers and educators from around the world make up the CELLR4 Editorial Board. A complete listing of the Board members can be found at www.cellr4.org/editorial-board
About CELLR4
CELLR4 (www.cellr4.org) is a scientific journal with particular focus on cellular repair, replacement, regeneration, reprogramming and differentiation. Its scope ranges from fundamental new discoveries in basic science to translational, clinical trials and delivery of novel therapeutic options. As the official journal of the international non-profit organization The Cure Alliance, CELLR4 serves as a platform for discussion of challenges and opportunities on the path to the development of new treatments, independently from the disease target. CELLR4 publishes commentaries and opinion papers on regulatory, legal, and ethical issues, as well as information on global collaborative platforms and funding opportunities of interest to the field.
CELLR4 also serves as the official journal of the Fondazione Cure Alliance Onlus, another non-profit international organization that include physicians, scientists, patients, patient advocates, business and philanthropy leaders, with the mission to promote collaborative efforts worldwide, while addressing and working to resolve impediments and challenges on the path to develop cures for diseases now afflicting humankind. In this direction, the publication serves as a shared communication platform to discuss challenges and opportunities on the path to develop new treatments.
About Biologic Therapies
Based in Ocala, Florida, Biologic Therapies, Inc. (www.biologictherapies.com), is a company with a principal strategy of seeking out and developing innovative, proprietary and patented technologies to meet the needs of the rapidly emerging science of regenerative medicine, including stem cell therapy. Biologic Therapies provides groundbreaking medical technologies that significantly enhance the body’s natural healing ability, thereby providing patients with improved outcomes and quicker restoration of function. The Company’s products provide access to the biologics / regenerative medicine sector of the healthcare market.
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Biologic Therapies
Scott Reynolds
352-304-5149
www.BiologicTherapies.com
Scott Reynolds
352-304-5149
www.BiologicTherapies.com
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