Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. today announced the launch of PrimaGen Advanced Allograft, an autograft substitute containing the same bone healing elements as autograft, but without the risks associated with donor site morbidity or harvest site complications. Allograft is human tissue transplanted from a donor to a patient, while autograft tissue is transferred from one part of a patient's body to another. PrimaGen Advanced Allograft offers a combination of demineralized cortical bone fibers with verified osteoinductivity and cancellous bone, providing a trabecular structure for natural bony in-growth with optimal handling and delivery characteristics.
 
Dr. Donald Kucharzyk, Orthopaedic Surgeon at The Orthopaedic, Pediatric and Spine Institute in Crown Point, Ind., was one of the first surgeons to use PrimaGen Advanced Allograft. "The syringe allows for easy preparation and replication of the graft consistency prior to each use," noted Dr. Kucharzyk, who was pleased with the new delivery system, as well as the handling, moldability and stability under irrigation.
 
PrimaGen Advanced Allograft is designed to provide all three components essential for bone growth and healing: osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity and osteogenicity. Advanced testing of each donor tissue verifies the following:
 

• Cells in cancellous bone, which provides an interconnected trabecular structure, remain viable post-thaw;
• The graft contains at least 750,000 cells per cubic centimeter (cc) of cancellous tissue with at least 70 percent cell viability; and
• The cells present are able to differentiate into mature osteoblasts, which is critical for new bone formation.

 
"PrimaGen Advanced Allograft was developed to overcome the limitations of other bone graft substitutes and designed to offer a real alternative to autograft," said Adam Johnson, Zimmer Biomet's Group President of Spine, Dental, CMF and Thoracic. "We are pleased to include within our Spine portfolio a graft that not only has desirable handling characteristics, but is simple and convenient to use. PrimaGen Advanced Allograft recreates the Gold Standard, while reducing the co-morbidities tied to graft harvest."
 
PrimaGen Advanced Allograft is indicated for use as an allogeneic bone graft substitute containing viable donor cells intended for homologous use in the repair, replacement, reconstruction or supplementation of the recipient's tissue in musculoskeletal defects. These defects may be surgically created defects or defects created from traumatic injury to bone.