Vericel Announces FDA Approval and Commercial Availability of MACI Arthro
Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) has announced FDA approval for MACI Arthro, the first restorative biologic cartilage repair product approved for arthroscopic administration. This expansion of the MACI® label allows for less invasive repair of knee cartilage defects up to 4 cm2. MACI Arthro targets the largest segment of MACI's $3 billion addressable market, focusing on 2-4cm2 defects on femoral condyles, representing about 20,000 patients annually. The company is expanding its target surgeon base from 5,000 to 7,000 to include those performing high volumes of arthroscopic cartilage repair surgeries. This approval is expected to support sustained top-tier revenue growth for Vericel in the coming years.
Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) ha annunciato l'approvazione della FDA per MACI Arthro, il primo prodotto biologico restaurativo per la riparazione della cartilagine approvato per somministrazione artroscopica. Questa espansione dell'etichetta MACI® consente una riparazione meno invasiva dei difetti della cartilagine del ginocchio fino a 4 cm2. MACI Arthro si rivolge al segmento più grande del mercato indirizzabile da 3 miliardi di dollari di MACI, concentrandosi su difetti di 2-4 cm2 sui condili femorali, che rappresentano circa 20.000 pazienti all'anno. L'azienda sta espandendo la propria base di chirurghi obiettivo da 5.000 a 7.000 per includere quelli che eseguono un alto volume di interventi di riparazione della cartilagine in artroscopia. Si prevede che questa approvazione sosterrà una crescita sostenuta dei ricavi di alto livello per Vericel negli anni a venire.
Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) ha anunciado la aprobación de la FDA para MACI Arthro, el primer producto biológico restaurador para la reparación de cartílago aprobado para la administración artroscópica. Esta expansión de la etiqueta MACI® permite una reparación menos invasiva de los defectos de cartílago de la rodilla de hasta 4 cm2. MACI Arthro se dirige al segmento más grande del mercado abordable de 3 mil millones de dólares de MACI, enfocándose en defectos de 2-4 cm2 en los cóndilos femorales, que representan cerca de 20,000 pacientes anualmente. La empresa está expandiendo su base de cirujanos objetivo de 5,000 a 7,000 para incluir a aquellos que realizan un alto volumen de cirugías de reparación artroscópica de cartílago. Se espera que esta aprobación apoye un crecimiento sostenido de ingresos de primer nivel para Vericel en los próximos años.
Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL)은 MACI Arthro에 대한 FDA 승인을 발표했습니다. 이는 관절경 투여를 위한 최초의 생물학적 연골 복원 제품입니다. MACI® 라벨의 이 확장은 최대 4 cm2의 무릎 연골 결함을 덜 침습적인 수리로 허용합니다. MACI Arthro는 MACI의 30억 달러의 시장에서 가장 큰 부분을 목표로 하며, 대퇴골 관절에 있는 2-4cm2 결함에 집중하고 있으며, 연간 약 20,000명의 환자를 나타냅니다. 회사는 고용량의 관절경 연골 수리 수술을 수행하는 외과의를 포함하기 위해 목표 외과의 수를 5,000명에서 7,000명으로 확대하고 있습니다. 이 승인은 향후 몇 년 동안 Vericel의 지속적이고 높은 수준의 수익 성장을 지원할 것으로 예상됩니다.
Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) a annoncé l'approbation de la FDA pour MACI Arthro, le premier produit biologique réparateur de cartilage approuvé pour l'administration arthroscopique. Cette extension de l'étiquette MACI® permet une réparation moins invasive des défauts de cartilage du genou allant jusqu'à 4 cm2. MACI Arthro cible le plus grand segment du marché adressable de 3 milliards de dollars de MACI, en se concentrant sur les défauts de 2-4 cm2 sur les condyles fémoraux, représentant environ 20 000 patients par an. L'entreprise élargit sa base de chirurgiens cibles de 5 000 à 7 000 pour inclure ceux qui pratiquent un grand volume de chirurgies de réparation du cartilage arthroscopique. Cette approbation devrait soutenir une croissance durable des revenus de premier plan pour Vericel dans les années à venir.
Vericel (NASDAQ:VCEL) hat die FDA-Zulassung für MACI Arthro bekannt gegeben, das erste biologisch restaurative Produkt zur Reparatur von Knorpel, das für die arthroskopische Anwendung genehmigt wurde. Diese Erweiterung des MACI®-Labels ermöglicht wENiger invasive Reparaturen von Knorpeldefekten im Knie von bis zu 4 cm2. MACI Arthro zielt auf das größte Segment des adressierbaren Marktes von 3 Milliarden Dollar für MACI, wobei der Fokus auf Defekten von 2-4 cm2 an den femoralen Gelenkknorpelelementen liegt, was etwa 20.000 Patienten jährlich entspricht. Das Unternehmen erweitert seine Zielgruppe von 5.000 auf 7.000 Chirurgen, um diejenigen einzuschließen, die ein hohes Volumen an arthroskopischen Knorpelreparaturoperationen durchführen. Es wird erwartet, dass diese Genehmigung ein nachhaltiges Wachstum des Einnahmen von hohem Niveau für Vericel in den kommenden Jahren unterstützt.
- FDA approval for MACI Arthro, expanding the product's addressable market
- First restorative biologic cartilage repair product approved for arthroscopic administration
- Targets the largest segment of MACI's $3 billion addressable market
- Expansion of target surgeon base from 5,000 to 7,000
- Potential for increased market penetration and sustained top-tier revenue growth
- None.
Insights
The FDA approval of MACI Arthro is a significant regulatory milestone for Vericel. This expanded indication allows for a less invasive delivery method, potentially broadening the product's appeal and market reach. The approval demonstrates the FDA's confidence in the safety and efficacy of MACI for arthroscopic use, which is important for medical devices.
The expanded label to include arthroscopic delivery for defects up to 4 cm2 is particularly noteworthy. This size range covers a substantial portion of cartilage defects, making MACI Arthro applicable to a wider patient population. From a regulatory perspective, this approval could pave the way for similar less invasive approaches in cellular therapies, potentially influencing future FDA decisions in this space.
MACI Arthro represents a significant advancement in cartilage repair techniques. The ability to deliver MACI arthroscopically offers several clinical advantages:
- Reduced surgical trauma and faster recovery for patients
- Improved visualization and access to defect sites
- Potential for treating multiple defects in a single procedure
The custom-designed instruments for 2-4 cm2 defects on femoral condyles address a common clinical need. This less invasive approach may encourage more surgeons to adopt MACI, potentially leading to improved outcomes for a larger patient population. However, the learning curve for this new technique and its long-term efficacy compared to open procedures will need to be carefully evaluated.
Vericel's MACI Arthro approval is a strong positive for the company's growth prospects. By targeting the largest segment of MACI's
- Expanded target surgeon base from 5,000 to 7,000, increasing market penetration
- Potential for higher adoption rates due to less invasive procedure
- Addressing 20,000 patients per year, representing one-third of the addressable market
The company's focus on the 2-4 cm2 defect market aligns well with clinical demand. This strategic move, combined with the less invasive approach, positions Vericel for potential market share gains and sustained top-tier revenue growth in the coming years.
First Restorative Biologic Cartilage Repair Product Approved for Arthroscopic Administration
Targets the Largest Segment of MACI’s
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vericel Corporation (NASDAQ:VCEL), a leader in advanced therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) expanding the MACI® (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) label to include arthroscopic delivery of MACI to repair symptomatic single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee up to 4 cm2 in size. MACI ArthroTM provides a less invasive technique compared to the current approach, allowing surgeons to evaluate and prepare the defect site as well as deliver the MACI implant through small incisions using custom-designed MACI Arthro instruments.
“The approval of MACI Arthro represents another significant milestone in our strategy to provide innovative solutions for patients suffering from pain and dysfunction caused by cartilage defects in the knee,” said Nick Colangelo, President and CEO of Vericel. “MACI Arthro provides orthopedic surgeons and their patients with a less invasive option for MACI administration, which we believe has the potential to significantly increase penetration into the largest segment of the MACI addressable market and will support sustained top-tier revenue growth for the Company in the years ahead.”
MACI is the first FDA-approved cellularized scaffold product that applies tissue engineering processes to grow cells on scaffolds using healthy cartilage tissue from the patient's own knee. MACI is the only restorative biologic cartilage repair product approved for arthroscopic administration. MACI Arthro incorporates the advantages of an arthroscopic approach with the long-term durability and established clinical results of MACI. The custom MACI Arthro instruments are designed to treat the most common defects in the MACI addressable market, which are 2-4cm2 defects on the femoral condyles, representing approximately 20,000 patients per year or one-third of the
“Arthroscopic delivery of MACI represents a significant advancement in cartilage repair,” said Grant H. Garcia, MD, Orthopedic Specialists of Seattle. “The technique and specially-designed MACI Arthro instrumentation provides surgeons with a less invasive option to administer a clinically-proven treatment to patients, and may be preferable for patients given the many post-operative benefits of arthroscopic versus open surgery.”
About MACI
MACI® (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane) is an autologous cellular scaffold product that is indicated for the repair of symptomatic single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults. The MACI implant consists of autologous cultured chondrocytes seeded onto a resorbable Type I/III collagen membrane. Autologous cultured chondrocytes are human-derived cells which are obtained from the patient's own cartilage for the manufacture of MACI. For more information, please visit www.maci.com.
Indication: MACI is an autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of single or multiple symptomatic, full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults.
Limitations of Use:
- Effectiveness of MACI in joints other than the knee has not been established.
- Safety and effectiveness of MACI in patients over the age of 55 years have not been established.
Important Safety Information
- Contraindications: MACI is contraindicated in patients with a known history of hypersensitivity to gentamicin, other aminoglycosides, products of porcine or bovine origin, in patients with severe osteoarthritis of the knee, inflammatory arthritis, inflammatory joint disease, or uncorrected congenital blood coagulation disorders, in patients who have undergone prior knee surgery in the past 6 months, excluding surgery to procure a biopsy or a concomitant procedure to prepare the knee for a MACI implant, or in patients unable to cooperate with a physician-prescribed post-surgical rehabilitation program.
- Warnings and Precautions:
- Malignancy: The risk of MACI in patients with malignancy in the area of cartilage biopsy or implant is unknown. Expansion of malignant or dysplastic cells present in biopsy tissue during manufacture and subsequent implantation may be possible.
- Transmissible infectious diseases: Because patients undergoing procedures associated with MACI are not routinely tested for transmissible infectious diseases, cartilage biopsy and MACI implant may carry risk of transmitting infectious diseases.
- Presurgical Comorbidities: Local inflammation or active infection in the bone, joint, and surrounding soft tissue, meniscal pathology, cruciate ligament instability, and misalignment should be assessed and treated prior to or concurrent with MACI implantation.
- Product Sterility: Final sterility test results are not available at the time of shipping.
- Adverse Reactions: The most frequently occurring adverse reactions reported for MACI (≥
5% ) were arthralgia, back pain, joint swelling, and joint effusion. Serious adverse reactions reported for MACI were arthralgia, cartilage injury, meniscus injury, treatment failure, and osteoarthritis. - Specific Populations:
- Use of MACI in pediatric patients (younger than 18 years of age) or patients over 65 years of age has not been established.
- The MACI implant is not recommended during pregnancy. For implantations post-pregnancy, the safety of breastfeeding to an infant has not been determined.
- To report negative side effects, contact Vericel Corporation at 1-800-453-6948 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
- Please see Full Prescribing Information.
About Vericel Corporation
Vericel is a leading provider of advanced therapies for the sports medicine and severe burn care markets. The Company combines innovations in biology with medical technologies, resulting in a highly differentiated portfolio of innovative cell therapies and specialty biologics that repair injuries and restore lives. Vericel markets three products in the United States. MACI is an autologous cellularized scaffold product indicated for the repair of symptomatic, single or multiple full-thickness cartilage defects of the knee with or without bone involvement in adults. Epicel® (cultured epidermal autografts) is a permanent skin replacement for the treatment of patients with deep dermal or full thickness burns greater than or equal to
Epicel and MACI are registered trademarks of Vericel Corporation. MACI Arthro is a trademark of Vericel Corporation. NexoBrid is a registered trademark of MediWound Ltd. and is used under license to Vericel Corporation. © 2024 Vericel Corporation. All rights reserved.
Forward Looking Statements
Vericel cautions you that all statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for the forward-looking statements contained herein, they are based on current expectations about future events affecting us and are subject to risks, assumptions, uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release. These statements are often, but are not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans,” “expects,” “continues,” “believe,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “target,” “future,” “potential,” “goals” and similar words or phrases, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” or similar expressions.
Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, uncertainties associated with our expectations regarding future revenue, growth in revenue, market penetration for MACI, MACI Arthro, Epicel, and NexoBrid, growth in profit, gross margins and operating margins, the ability to continue to scale our manufacturing operations to meet the demand for our cell therapy products, including the timely completion of a new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Burlington, Massachusetts, the ability to achieve or sustain profitability, contributions to adjusted EBITDA, the expected target surgeon audience, potential fluctuations in sales and volumes and our results of operations over the course of the year, timing and conduct of clinical trial and product development activities, timing and likelihood of the FDA’s potential approval of the use of MACI to treat cartilage defects in the ankle, the estimate of the commercial growth potential of our products and product candidates, competitive developments, changes in third-party coverage and reimbursement, surgeon adoption of MACI Arthro, physician and burn center adoption of NexoBrid, supply chain disruptions or other events or factors affecting MediWound’s ability to manufacture and supply sufficient quantities of NexoBrid to meet customer demand, including but not limited to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, negative impacts on the global economy and capital markets resulting from the conflict in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, adverse developments affecting financial institutions, companies in the financial services industry or the financial services industry generally, global geopolitical tensions or record inflation and potential future impacts on our business or the economy generally stemming from a resurgence of COVID-19 or another similar public health emergency.
These and other significant factors are discussed in greater detail in Vericel’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 29, 2024, Vericel’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, filed with the SEC on August 1, 2024, and in other filings with the SEC. These forward-looking statements reflect our views as of the date hereof and Vericel does not assume and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect a change in its views or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this release except as required by law.
Investor Contact:
Eric Burns
ir@vcel.com
+1 (734) 418-4411
Media Contact:
Julie Downs
media@vcel.com
FAQ
What is MACI Arthro and what has the FDA approved it for?
How does MACI Arthro differ from the original MACI procedure?
What is the market potential for MACI Arthro according to Vericel (VCEL)?
How is Vericel (VCEL) expanding its reach with MACI Arthro?
