Introducing RECARTA

WHAT IS CARTILAGE?

Cartilage is solid yet flexible enough to allow adults' bones to move against each other without injury for decades. But while protecting the bones, the cartilage can sustain damage

Symptoms of cartilage damage

Pain and Swelling

Typical "Clicking" Sound

Stiffness and Locking

Painful Walking and Climbing Stairs

Difficulty Moving the Joint

It is essential to seek medical attention if you experience any symptoms of cartilage damage

WHAT CAUSES CARTILAGE DAMAGE?

• Cartilage injuries can result from the overuse of joints, sports-related injuries, accidents, trauma, or the natural aging process

• When cartilage is injured, the defect in the articular cartilage cannot repair itself. Cartilage contains a dense tissue matrix with very few cells, no blood vessels, or innervation

• If the cartilage damage is left untreated, it might progress to irreversible knee damage

STAGES OF CARTILAGE DAMAGE

HEALTHY CARTILAGE

CARTILAGE DAMAGE (chondromalacia)

spread to the joint

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CARTILAGE DAMAGE (chondromalacia)

limited to a specific area

COMPLETE LOSS OF CARTILAGE

leads to knee replacement

Autologous cell-scaffold based articular cartilage regenerative technology

RECARTA

RECARTA technology, consisting of autologous chondrocytes combined with a biological scaffold. Culture-expanded cells are seeded on a scaffold and a medicinal product is formed.

The tissue-engineered product is placed in the knee defect area where the pathological cartilage was removed. The resultant tissue shares properties with hyaline cartilage - the durable tissue found in healthy articular cartilage.

This treatment has been shown to provide long-term cartilage regeneration, long-lasting pain relief, and improved knee function.

STEP ONE

HOW RECARTA WORKS?

Consultation

Your orthopedic surgeon can advise on further actions, including X-ray and MRI, to assess cartilage damage and determine eligibility for RECARTA or other treatment options.

STEP TWO

Harvesting your cells and Manufacturing

STEP THREE

Implantation

STEP FOUR

Rehabilitation

A short, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgical procedure is to harvest a ballpen-size cartilage biopsy sample from a non-weight-bearing area of your damaged knee.

The sample is then cultured and multiplied into millions of specialized cartilage-forming cells over a four-week period in a quality-controlled laboratory.

Cartilage-forming cells are combined with a biological scaffold for improved attachment and proliferation. The tissue-engineered product is introduced back to the defect, and the cartilage regeneration has started.

A cartilage regeneration process is enforced with a personalized rehabilitation stage.

OUTCOME OF RECARTA TREATMENT

Long-term recovery. Prevents invasive knee replacement surgery

Stops the progression of cartilage damage. Reduces knee pain, stiffness, swelling, locking

Forms new and healthy hyaline cartilage

This treatment has been shown to provide long-term cartilage regeneration, long-lasting pain relief and improve knee function

Improves joint function and mobility

The microfracture (with or without a membrane) involves the creation of holes in the subchondral bone to cause bleeding.

It has been recommended for small knee chondral and osteochondral defects, however, it has many limitations:

• The formation of fibrocartilage lacking the tensile strength of native hyaline cartilage

• Substantial injury to the subchondral bone causing edema and cyst formation

• Intralesional bone formation in the repair cartilage area

• Reduced patient-reported outcomes after two years in >80%

LIMITATIONS OF OTHER SURGICAL TREATMENT OPTIONS