Technology
Health Problem
Degenerative Intervertebral Disc
Loss of tissue integrity or degeneration in the intervertebral disc leads to a loss of function, particularly its shock absorbing or cushioning qualities. The intervertebral disc has no blood supply; therefore, in the event of injury, the healing process is slow and protracted. Intervertebral disc degeneration is driven by an imbalance of synthetic and catabolic processes occurring within the disc, and may lead to herniation, stenosis, segmental instability, and degenerative scoliosis.
Epidemiology
Disc degeneration can be detected in 90% of >50-year-old individuals. Globally, chronic lower back pain is among the top ten disability risk factors, ranking above diabetes and mental health as a contributor to years lost to disability. The costs of back pain treatment, absenteeism and disablement exceed all other musculoskeletal conditions, estimated at ~US$100 billion in the USA.
Standard of care
Currently, lower back pain treatment includes conservative therapies (e.g. anti-inflammatories, analgesia and physical therapy), invasive strategies (e.g. epidural steroid injections and ablation), or surgery (e.g. spinal fusion and disk replacement). Surgical interventions are costly, irreversible and risky. None of these therapies directly addresses disc degeneration as they do not restore the disc.
Our Solution
Disc Regeneration: an alternative to surgical intervention
Cartago Biotech is developing CBT005, a recombinant biologic, as a therapeutic candidate for the regeneration of spinal intervertebral disc in patients with debilitating degenerative disc. The therapeutic potential of CBT005 is supported by a compelling biological rationale and strong proof of concept preclinical data set. CBT005 induces the mobilisation and differentiation of stem cells, culminating in de novo regeneration of intervertebral disc and ultimately leading to stabilisation of the affected spine. CT009 therapy has the potential to preclude much more invasive, costly and risky spinal surgery as the standard of care for refractory disc degeneration and chronic back pain.
Partners
Cartago Biotech is seeking biopharma companies interested to partner to develop CBT005 as a novel treatment for degenerative intervertebral disc and chronic back pain.