Cytori Therapeutics Gets Patent to Treat Musculoskeletal Disorders

Cytori Therapeutics has received a U.S. patent for its stem cell- and regenerative-based methods of treating spinal disorders.

The San Diego, Calif.-based regenerative medicine-based product developer received Patent No. 7,771,716 (‘716 patent) for its Celution System. The patent covers the therapeutic use of adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs) for repairing and regenerating the spinal disc and for the formation of bone, cartilage, skeletal muscle, tendons and ligaments.

“This addition to our patent portfolio significantly expands protection for the therapeutic uses of the Celution System output for orthopedics, one of the largest markets in regenerative medicine,” said Dr. Marc Hedrick, Cytori president. “The technology has shown great potential for disc disease, a spectrum of conditions for which current treatments generally attempt to address the symptoms rather than repair the damaged tissue.”

Results of 12-month preclinical trials conducted by Cytori indicate that ADRCs can promote the repair of damaged spinal discs. In a large animal model, ADRC-treated discs showed a significant increase in disc tissue density and disc-specific extracellular matrix components, the company said in a news release.

The ‘716 patent includes 61 depending claims covering site of cell delivery, additives to the Celution System output, surgical implants, scaffolds, spinal fusion devices for use with the Celution System output, cell culture, and differentiation of the Celution System output as well as various disaggregation agents and device configurations. Cytori’s Celution System automates the extraction of the stem and regenerative cells naturally occurring in adipose tissue for both clinical and research use, according to the company.

The ‘716 patent is the 10th U.S. patent issued to the Cytori. The company has been awarded 14 international patents and has more than 100 patent applications pending worldwide relating to devices, methods and uses of adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells.