Mesoblast spine trial to be presented at NASS meet

Details of a Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) phase II trial of its mesenchymal precursor cells (MPCs) in spinal fusion procedures will be presented at a North American Spine Society (NASS) meeting.

The 28th annual NASS meeting will take place at the Ernest N Morial Convention Center in New Orleans from 9-12 October.

Trial data will be presented by principal investigator Dr Randall F Dryer, an orthopaedic surgeon with the Central Texas Spine Institute.

Results from the trial, first revealed in January, showed that Mesoblast’s MPCs were equivalent to spinal fusion gold standard treatment hip autograft in terms of reducing pain and improving function at 12 months.

There were no cell-related serious adverse events such as excessive bone formation or nerve compression, as reported in other biologic therapies trialled for lumbar spinal fusion.

On the strength of the results, Mesoblast has been preparing since January to enter phase III trials sometime this year.

MPCs are proprietary allogenic adult stem cells. Mesoblast is also trialling MPCs in conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and congestive heart failure.

In March, the company raised $170 million to support its planned clinical trials as well as further development of the MPC platform.

Mesoblast (ASX:MSB) shares were trading 2.96% lower at $5.57 as of around 1 pm on Monday.