The Problem : Degenerative Disc Disease
Loss or wear and tear of spinal disc tissue (Disc Degeneration) reduces its shock-absorbing function. Because the disc has no direct blood supply, healing after injury is low. This process can lead to chronic back pain which can be disabling.
Scale of problem
Wear and tear of the spinal discs is extremely common, with signs seen in around 90% of people over 50. Worldwide, chronic lower back pain is among the top ten causes of disability, contributing more years lost to disability than conditions like diabetes or mental health disorder. In USA alone, combined cost of treatment, lost work days and disability from back pain is estimated at around US$100 billion, exceeding all other bone and joint conditions.
Current treatments
Current treatments for lower back pain range from medications and physical therapy to injections and surgery. Surgical options are expensive, irreversible, and carry significant risk. Importantly, none of these treatments address the underlying wear and tear of the spinal disc, as they do not restore or repair the disc itself.
Our Solution : CBT005
Cartago Biotech is developing CBT005, a biologic therapy designed to help repair damaged spinal discs in patients with severe degenerative back disease. Supported by strong scientific evidence and encouraging pre-clinical results, CBT005 works by activating the body’s own stem cells to regenerate disc tissue and stabilize the spine. This approach has the potential to offer an effective, less invasive alternative to major spinal surgery for patients with chronic back pain caused by disc degeneration.
