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Efficacy and Safety Study of co.Don Chondrosphere to Treat Cartilage Defects

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Articular Cartilage Lesion of the Femoral Condyle
Interventions
Drug: co.don chondrosphere®
Procedure: Microfracture
Registration Number
NCT01222559
Lead Sponsor
co.don AG
Brief Summary

This is a prospective, phase III, multicenter, open label, randomised clinical trial of co.don chondrosphere®, a three-dimensional autologous chondrocyte transplantation product (ACT3D-CS)compared to the procedure of microfracture (MF)in the treatment of cartilage defects of knee joints.

After screening visit patients were booked for arthroscopy and at that time they were randomised to either ACT3D-CS with co.don chondrosphere® (Group A) or to MF(Group B), a marrow-stimulating method based on the penetration of the subchondral bone plate at the bottom of the cartilage defect. At the time of arthroscopy Patients of group B had their procedure of MF (treatment surgery) and patients of group A had their cells harvested from healthy cartilage. The cells are cultivated for 8-10 weeks in vitro to develope 3-dimensional spheroids , that are transplanted in an open knee procedure (treatment surgery)into the defect. Patients subsequently followed the same rehabilitation program and had post-surgery visits. After the 12-month-visit a interim analyses will be performed and the 24-month-visit is defined as final assessment. Then patients have follow-up assessments up to 60 months post-treatment-surgery.

Detailed Description

see above

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
102
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Male or female patients, age: between 18 and 50 years
  2. Defect: isolated ICRS grade III or IV single defect chondral lesions on femoral condyles
  3. Defect size: 1 to < 4 cm2 after debridement to healthy cartilage up to 6 mm in depth.Assessment with MRI at screening and per estimation during arthroscopy prior to randomization
  4. Nearly intact chondral structure surrounding the defect as well as an intact corresponding joint area
  5. Informed consent signed and dated by patient
  6. Patient understands the strict rehabilitation protocol and follow-up programme and is willing to follow it
  7. In case of pain, patient agrees to use only paracetamol mono- (max 4 g/day) or combination preparation and oral and/or topic NSAIDs during the trial and to discontinue the use of oral and/or topic NSAIDs and/or paracetamol combination preparation 1 week before each visit whereas the use of paracetamol monopreparation (max 4 g/day) is allowed. However, in the morning of the visit day, no pain medication is allowed. Other pain medications are allowed during surgical procedure and may be taken for a period not exceeding 4 weeks after surgery.
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Defects on both knees at the same time
  2. Radiological signs of osteoarthritis
  3. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD)
  4. Any signs of knee instability
  5. Valgus or varus malalignment (more than 5° over the mechanical axis)
  6. Clinically relevant second cartilage lesion on the same knee
  7. More than 50 % resection of a meniscus in the affected knee or incomplete meniscal rim
  8. Rheumatoid arthritis, parainfectious or infectious arthritis, and condition after these diseases
  9. Pregnancy and planned pregnancy (no MRI possible)
  10. Obesity (Body Mass Index >30)
  11. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
  12. Serious illness
  13. Poor general health as judged by physician
  14. Participation in concurrent clinical trials or previous trials within 3 months of screening
  15. Previous treatment with ACT in the affected knee
  16. Microfracture performed less than 1 year before screening in the affected knee
  17. Alcohol or drug (medication) abuse
  18. Meniscal transplant in the affected knee
  19. Meniscal suture (in the affected knee) three months prior to baseline
  20. Mosaicplasty (Osteoarticular Transplant System, OATS) in the affected knee
  21. Having received hyaluronic acid intra-articular injections in the affected knee within the last 3 months before baseline
  22. Taking specific osteoarthritis drugs such as chondroïtin sulfate, diacerein, nglucosamine,piascledine, capsaicin within 2 weeks before baseline
  23. Corticosteroid treatment by systemic or intraarticular route within the last month of baseline or intramuscular or oral corticosteroïds within the last 2 weeks before baseline
  24. Chronic use of anticoagulants
  25. Any concomitant painful or disabling disease of the spine, hips or lower limbs that would interfere with evaluation of the afflicted knee
  26. Any clinically significant or symptomatic vascular or neurological disorder of the lower extremities
  27. Any evidence of the following diseases in the affected knee: septic arthritis, inflammatory joint disease, recurrent episodes of pseudogout, Paget's disease of bone, ochronosis, acromegaly, haemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, primary osteochondromatosis, heritable disorders, collagen gene mutation
  28. Current diagnosis of osteomyelitis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1,-2) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
co.don chondrosphere®co.don chondrosphere®co.don chondrosphere® are spheroids in suspension, developed from autologous chondrocytes. The dose depends on the size of the defect, recommended dose is 10-70 spheroids/cm2 defect.
Micofractureco.don chondrosphere®A procedure in which the subchondral bone is perforated to allow a bloodcloth to form scar tissue.
MicofractureMicrofractureA procedure in which the subchondral bone is perforated to allow a bloodcloth to form scar tissue.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change of overall KOOS24 months after the end of the respective treatment

Change of overall KOOS (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score)from baseline (Day 0)to final assessment compared between ACT3D-CS (co.don chondrosphere) and MF (microfracture)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
ICRS Visual Histological Assessment Score24 months after respective treatment

ICRS Visual Histological Assessment Score at final assessment (24 months) compared between ACT3D-CS and MF

Change of overall KOOS12, 36, 48, 60 months after the end of the respective treatment

Change of overall KOOS(Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) from baseline (Day 0) to 12 months, 36, 48, 60 months after the end of the respective treatment,compared between ACT3D-CS and MF

Bern Score and additional histological assessment scores24 months after the respective treatment

Bern Score and additional histological assessment scores at final assessment (24 months) compared between ACT3D-CS and MF

Safety Parameters3,12,24 months after respective treatment

Frequence and type of adverse Events Vital signs Physical examination Concomitant pain medication Laboratory parameters

MOCART (MRI Score)12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after transplantation or microfracture

MOCART (MRI Score) 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after transplantation or microfracture compared between ACT3D-CS and MF

Arthroscopy and biopsy24 months

Arthroscopy and biopsy at 24 months after transplantation/ microfracture, assessment of cartilage repair after ACT3D and microfracture to be compared between ACT3D-CS and MF

Change of the 5 subscores of the KOOS12, 24, 36, 48, 60 months after the end of the respective treatment

Change of the 5 subscores of the KOOS (Pain, other Symptoms, Function in daily living (ADL), Function in sport and recreation (Sport/Rec), knee related Quality of life (QoL)) for both treatment groups compared between ACT3D-CS and MF

Change of modified Lysholm Score12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after the end of the respective treatment

Change of modified Lysholm Score from baseline (Day 0) to 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after the end of the respective treatment compared between ACT3D-CS and MF

Days of absence from work (employment) and/or days of inability to follow usual activitiesannual

Days of absence from work (employment) and/or days of inability to follow usual activities during the last year or since the last visit, respectively, and time point when patient was back to work and/or to follow usual activities

Change of ICRS/IKDC12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after the end of the respective treatment

Change of ICRS/IKDC from baseline (Day 0) to 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months after the end of the respective treatment, compared between ACT3D-CS and MF

Trial Locations

Locations (12)

Universitätsklinikum der Albert-Ludwig-Universität Freiburg, Department Othopädie und Traumatologie

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Freiburg, Baden-Würrtemberg, Germany

Gelenk-und Wirbelsäulenzentrum Steglitz

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Berlin, Germany

Orthopädische Klinik der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover

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Hannover, Germany

St. Vinzenz-Hospital

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Dinslaken, Germany

Waldkrankenhaus "Rudolf Elle" GmbH Klinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie

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Eisenberg, Tühringen, Germany

DRK-Kliniken Westend

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Berlin, Germany

Lubinus Clinicum Kiel

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Kiel, Germany

DRK Krankenhaus Luckenwalde

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Luckenwalde, Germany

Orthopädisch-Unfallchirurgisches Zentrum

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Mannheim, Germany

Uniwersytecki Szpital Kliniczny w Białymstoku

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Białystok, Poland

Centrum Medycyny Sportowej

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Warszawa, Poland

Wojewódzki Szpital Chirurgii Urazowej

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Piekary Śląskie, Poland

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