Femoral neck fracture is the most common form of hip fracture with annual treatment costs in the U.S. estimated to be between $10 to $15 billion, and are expected to rise due to the aging population, with mortality rates of up to 20%. *click for further information about Muscle injury due to total hip replacement.
Clinical Development of PLX-PAD in Muscle Regeneration
Phase III study of PLX-PAD for muscle injury following hip
fracture surgery (N=240), topline results reported in July 2022
- The primary endpoint was not met
- A significant increase in Hip Abduction Strength (HAS) was observed at week 26 and week 52, compared to reference week 6, for patients treated with PLX-PAD (n=120), in the injured and uninjured leg compared to placebo (n=120)
- PLX-PAD demonstrated a meaningful increase in the absolute HAS at week 52 in the injured leg (p=0.0511) and uninjured (p=0.113) leg
- PLX-PAD treated patients were able to walk 296 meters versus 266 meters in placebo during 6-min walking test at week 52
Graph 1: HAS change from week 6 Injured leg
2KG difference from placebo at week 26 (p=0.047)
4KG difference from placebo at week 52 (p=0.0022)
Graph 2: HAS change from week 6 Contralateral (non–operated leg)
1.8KG difference from placebo at week 26 (p=0.073)
4KG difference from placebo at week 52 (p=0.0046)
The Phase III study for PLX-PAD cell therapy in the treatment of muscle injury following surgical repair (arthroplasty) of the hip joint due to fracture (Hipgen study) was awarded a €7.4 million grant from European Union’s Horizon 2020 program, which is its largest Research and Innovation program. The collaborative project includes leading European research institutes and clinical sites, which undertake an extensive scientific program in parallel to the trial, using in-depth immunological, endocrine, and molecular analyses to better understand the mechanism of action of PLX-PAD in hip fracture.
Completed Study- Muscle Regeneration following Total Hip Replacement
Pluristem conducted a Phase II, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study in patients undergoing a total hip replacement (THR) due to osteoarthritis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of 2 doses of PLX-PAD for the regeneration of the gluteus medius muscle injured during the THR. Patients were assigned to receive either 150 or 300 million PLX-PAD cells, or placebo. PLX-PAD or placebo were administered directly to the injured muscle during the surgery.
Efficacy data were collected at clinic visits for up to 6 months, while safety data were collected during clinic visits for up to 1 year.
The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in the strength of the gluteus medius muscle 6 months after surgery, and the key secondary endpoint was the change in the muscle volume of the gluteus medius 6 months after surgery, as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The study met both the primary efficacy and key secondary endpoints. Both patient groups treated with PLX-PAD showed efficacy, as measured by a greater increase in the gluteus medius muscle strength than the patients receiving placebo, with the group receiving the 150 million cell dose displaying a statistically significant 500% improvement over the placebo group (p=0.0067). Patients treated with the 300 million cell dose showed a 300% improvement over the placebo (p=0.18).
Graph 1: Mean change in strength of the Gluteus Medius at Week 26 post surgery
MRI of the gluteus medius muscle indicated an increase in volume in those patients treated with PLX-PAD versus the placebo group. Those who received the 150 million cell dose showed a statistically significant improvement in muscle volume of approximately 300% over the placebo group (p=0.004). Patients treated with the 300 million cell dose showed an approximately 150% improvement approximately 150% over placebo (p=0.19).
Graph 2: Mean change in volume of the Gluteus Medius at Week 26 post surgery
Data also showed that, six months after surgery, the magnitude of improvement in the muscle force of the contralateral (non-operated) gluteus medius muscle was approximately 40 times larger in patients treated with 150 million PLX-PAD cells than in those who received placebo, and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.0114). Patients treated with 300 million PLX-PAD cells also showed a larger increase in muscle force than patients injected with placebo (p=0.227). These data on the force of the muscle in the contralateral leg suggest that PLX-PAD cells can exert a systemic as well as a local effect.