Nanochon, a medical technology company developing Chondrograft™, a patented implant for treating knee cartilage defects, has received regulatory approval from Panama’s Ministry of Health to begin its first-in-human (FIH) clinical study in the country.

The study will assess the safety and effectiveness of Chondrograft™ in patients with focal cartilage defects in the knee. The trial represents an important step in Nanochon’s clinical and regulatory development programme.

The study will be conducted at Panama Clinic in Panama City and led by sports medicine specialists Juan Osorio and Emilio Tufiño, with Dr Osorio serving as the principal investigator.

Nanochon selected Panama as a clinical development location because of its growing role in medical innovation, supported by regulatory processes, clinical infrastructure and access to diverse patient populations. The company has also received approval from Health Canada to conduct the study in Canada and is currently recruiting patients in Ontario.

Chondrograft™ is designed as a minimally invasive treatment that preserves future treatment options. The implant aims to provide immediate mechanical support for focal knee cartilage injuries while supporting longer-term cartilage regeneration.

The device has received Breakthrough Device designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Cartilage injuries remain a significant challenge in orthopaedic medicine and can lead to persistent pain, reduced mobility and progressive joint deterioration. Existing treatment options may involve lengthy rehabilitation and do not always restore durable, functional cartilage tissue.

The prospective FIH study will enrol patients aged 22 to 60 who have not responded adequately to conservative treatment and have one or two cartilage lesions affecting the femoral condyles and/or trochlea.

 

Source: businesswire.com

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