Cytori issued patent for adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells therapies

Cytori Therapeutics has received U.S. Patent No. 7,771,716 for its Celution System based methods of treating musculoskeletal disorders such as spinal disc disease. The patent covers the therapeutic use of adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells (ADRCs) for promoting repair and regeneration of the spinal disc and formation of bone, cartilage, skeletal muscle, tendon and ligaments, according to a company press release.

"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," Cytori President Marc Hedrick, MD, stated in the release. "Our 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."

In December 2008, Cytori presented 12-month preclinical results indicating that ADRCs can promote 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.

The patent includes 61 dependent 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 a variety of 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.