Biologics

The potential of spine-targeted biologics is immense and quickly developing. Here are four recent stories on notable developments or recognitions:

Stem Cells Translational Medicine recently awarded Mohamad Khazaei, PhD, its Young Investigator Award for his research on cell-based treatments for spinal cord injuries, reports News Medical Life Sciences.

Orthobiologic developer Bone Biologics said its rhNELL-1 product promoted bone formation in advanced spine models.

Developmental biologist Olivier Pourquié, PhD, identified a cellular segmentation clock-like mechanism in humans that controls spine development, The Harvard Gazette reports.

Ortho-biologics company Royal Biologics launched Magnus, a DMSO-free viable cellular bone allograft, the first of its kind to be DMSO-free.

NanoFUSE Biologics named Darren Lebl, MD, to its scientific advisory board.

Bioventus is partnering with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan to provide its knee osteoarthritis treatments to Medicare Advantage and Commercial patients, beginning Jan. 1, 2020.

Here are nine key developments in stem cell research for spine this year:

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Helen DeVos Children's Hospital provided a $2.1 million gene therapy drug for spinal muscular atrophy to a one-year-old girl in November, reports Fox 47 News.

Dr. Conor Buckley, director of biomedical engineering at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland, received a European Research Grant to study spinal regeneration on Dec. 10, reports The Irish Times.