Both cartilage repair and knee replacement are big businesses. Approximately 650,000 procedures are performed in the U.S. each year to treat cartilage injuries. In addition, approximately 581,000 knee replacement procedures are performed annually in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The majority of procedures are repeat treatments, which highlights the clinical need to improve upon current treatment methods.

The market for medical implants is expected to grow in the future, prompted by advances in implant technology as well as the aging Baby Boomer population’s desire to remain physically active even in old age. However, medical implants of all kinds have a major hurdle to overcome: The patient’s body may reject the implant. Rejection may occur in certain patients if the implant is derived from animal sources such as cows or pigs.

A procedure called autologous chondrocyte implantation, which uses the patient’s own cartilage-producing cells (autologous chondrocytes) to repair damaged cartilage, has gained popularity in clinical circles. By extracting these cells, culturing them, and implanting them back into the damaged area, scientists hope to promote cartilage regeneration. However, the procedure may still utilize animal sources in the preparation of the implant.

One company seeking to improve upon current techniques for autologous chondrocyte implantation is ProChon Biotech, a Woburn, Mass.-based company specializing in biocompatible technology for joint cartilage repair. ProChon’s lead product is BioCart, a second-generation tissue regeneration implant for the treatment of joint cartilage defects and injuries. The BioCart system entails removing patients’ own chondrocytes via arthroscopic biopsy and expanding them in the presence of proprietary growth factors that are free of animal-derived components. The cells are then placed on a 3-D scaffold, to be implanted into the cartilage injury site using a minimally invasive procedure. From the time of biopsy to implantation, the entire process takes two to three weeks. The implant is designed to provide long-term restoration of the knee cartilage, shortened recovery time compared to other cartilage repair procedures, and improved quality of life. A Phase II clinical trial of BioCart is underway.

ProChon is scheduled to present at the OneMedForum San Francisco 2011, to take place in January. For more information on the conference, please visit http://www.onemedplace.com/forum.

Although back pain is common, it can be difficult for physicians to determine the exact cause of the pain using current testing methods. X-rays are frequently used to diagnose back pain, but according to a 2007 study published in the journal Musculoskeletal Disorders, X-rays give inconclusive results in about 85 percent of cases.

Austin, Texas-based Ortho Kinematics seeks to replace the conventional X-ray spine function test in the U.S. The Austin, Texas-based company has developed a new test, called the KineGraph VMA (Vertebral Motion Analyzer), to capture fluoroscopic images of the spine in motion. The system’s Motion Normalizer device bends the patient’s trunk through a range of motion, while hundreds of fluoroscopic images of the trunk are taken. Image recognition software locates the vertebrae on each frame.  According to company estimates, the KineGraph VMA system could generate more than $500 million in annual revenues in the U.S.

Ortho Kinematics is currently conducting a multi-center clinical trial to assess the diagnostic capability of the KineGraph VMA. A previous study conducted in the UK suggested that the KineGraph VMA may produce more accurate results than other testing methods.

Ortho Kinematics is one of the scheduled presenters at the OneMedForum San Francisco, to take place January 11-13, 2011. The conference will bring together a roster of hand-selected, innovative life sciences companies. Please visit http://www.onemedplace.com/forum to learn more about the conference.

Although neural stem cell research is a relatively new field, the findings of the UCI study may prove useful in the development of future stem cell therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. New World Laboratories (NWL), a biotechnology company developing therapeutic technologies for the regenerative medicine industry, is banking on a related theory: that cells that mimic neural cells may have beneficial properties as well. 

The Canadian company’s platform includes stem-like cells that behave like neural cells but are derived from the patient’s skin cells. They are designed to be low-cost and more potent than neural stem cells. The stem-like cells, under the product name NWL-NSC, could be used to treat stroke, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.

NWL seeks to prevent degeneration and restore function in damaged tissue, particularly in the nervous system. Potential applications of the company’s technology include multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and diabetes. NWL’s technology platform also includes small molecule compounds that act to inhibit apoptosis (programmed cell death) without causing tumor formation and living implantable tissues that can be used in tissue replacement therapy.

The company’s platform also includes a biomaterial that can be used alone or with stem cells to promote wound healing. Market research firm Kalorama estimates that the global wound care market was $14 billion in 2009 and is likely to grow at 6 percent annually over the next few years. According to Kalorama, wound-healing products that result in shortened hospital stays and improved patient outcomes, ultimately leading to reduced medical costs, are most likely to succeed in the marketplace.  

NWL is currently at the preclinical stage; approximately $15 million has been invested in the development of the company’s IP portfolio. NWL is scheduled to present at the OneMedForum San Francisco 2011 in January. The conference will feature corporate presentations from dozens of up-and-coming healthcare companies. Investors will be able to meet one-on-one with company representatives. To learn more about the conference, visit http://www.onemedplace.com/forum.

By having real-time patient data during a surgical procedure, surgeons may be able to catch and correct potential issues that could lead to complications and subsequent hospital readmission. This is especially important during coronary artery bypass surgery, a high-risk, invasive procedure that can lead to life-threatening complications if the graft isn’t functioning correctly following placement.

The process of fluoroscopy gives surgeons that real-time data. Fluoroscopy uses X-ray imaging technology to obtain continuous “live” images of a patient’s internal systems while they are functioning. The images are displayed on a monitor for physicians to view during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. Fluoroscopy can give physicians a clearer view of the patient’s system than a single X-ray image would. Fluoroscopic imaging may be used during a wide range of procedures, including catheter insertion during angioplasty or angiography, blood flow studies, colonoscopy, and orthopedic surgery. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has more information on fluoroscopy here.

Novadaq Technologies (TSX: NDQ) develops and markets real-time fluorescence imaging technologies for use in the operating room. The company’s core technology platform, the SPY Imaging System, provides fluoroscopic images during open and minimally invasive surgical procedures. SPY imaging is cleared by the FDA for use during a variety of procedures, including coronary artery graft bypass surgery, cardiovascular surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and organ transplants. SPY imaging technology is installed in approximately 100 U.S. hospitals, and unlike other X-ray imaging systems, it does not use ionizing radiation–which may be a plus, given the FDA’s plans to crack down on unnecessary radiation exposure in medical imaging.

Novadaq reports that more than 30 peer-reviewed studies have found the SPY system to be effective at improving clinical outcomes. In August 2009, an independent study published by the  U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that the use of SPY reduced hospital costs by $2000 to $4000 per procedure in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The reduction in costs was attributed to fewer postoperative complications and shorter hospital stays.

On August 23, the company announced that it had completed a final design review for the integration of its SPY technology into Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci Surgical Robotic System, fulfilling the final milestone in a licensing and development agreement with Intuitive. The completion of the final design review triggered a $500,000  final milestone payment from Intuitive to Novadaq. The da Vinci system is a leading platform for robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery.

The OneMedForum San Francisco 2011, to be held January 11-13, will feature an innovative lineup of medical device, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and information technology companies that are poised to change the future of healthcare. Novadaq is just one of the companies scheduled to present at the conference. To find out more about the OneMedForum San Francisco 2011, visit http://www.onemedplace.com/forum.

AMD comes in two forms: wet and dry. Of the two, wet AMD is less common but can lead to greater vision loss. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels begin to grow behind the macula, the part of the eye that is responsible for central vision. These vessels tend to be fragile and may leak blood and fluid, causing the macula to become raised. Wet AMD causes damage to the macula, leading to central vision loss.

There is no cure for either form of AMD, although anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth therapy) drugs delivered intraocularly have been shown to restore vision by inhibiting the growth of new blood vessels in the eye. However, the procedure has to be performed multiple times for patients to derive a significant clinical benefit.

Fremont, Calif.-based NeoVista is developing a wet AMD treatment that may provide the vision-restoring benefits of anti-VEGF therapy, but with fewer rounds of treatment. The NeoVista procedure only needs to be performed once, followed by two injections of an anti-VEGF drug. According to Tony Moses, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for NeoVista, the administration of the device plus the administration of as-needed anti-VEGF therapy is showing promising results.

NeoVista’s device delivers a radioactive isotope, called strontium 90, directly onto the retina. Low-dose radiation has demonstrated the ability to shrink ocular tumors, and strontium 90 has been used for over 40 years to treat various eye disorders. In the month following the one-time treatment, the radiation breaks down the DNA structure of the vascular networks causing the compromised vision.

The company is currently conducting a number of clinical trials, including a Phase III U.S. trial for FDA approval, a late-stage UK trial, and a number of Phase II and feasibility trials. “We’re getting similar clinical outcomes to the current standard of care, which is anti-VEGF injections, in terms of efficacy and safety, and we’re reducing greatly the number of injections that a patient requires,” says Mr. Moses. He says that patients have reported improvements in their vision as soon as one month after the procedure. NeoVista is currently beginning its commercial activities in Europe, where it received CE mark approval for its wet AMD device in 2009.

NeoVista is just one of many promising healthcare companies scheduled to present at the OneMedForum San Francisco in January 2011. To learn more about the conference, which connects investors with the firms shaping the future of healthcare and medicine, visit http://www.onemedplace.com/forum.

Cytori Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CYTX) specializes in products designed for the extraction of stem and regenerative cells from adipose (fat) tissue. Adult stem and regenerative cells have been shown to promote healing. Cytori’s lead product is the Celution System, a medical device that extracts and separates stem and regenerative cells from a patient’s own fat tissue. The device is currently approved in Europe for applications including breast reconstruction, soft tissue repair, and the facilitation of healing certain types of wounds, such as those resulting from Crohn’s disease. The company is currently conducting a 70-patient European study of the Celution System for breast cancer patients, with final data expected in the first half of 2011.

A study published in 2009 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that adult stem cells may help repair heart attack damage. Cytori is conducting its own study of the Celution System to treat heart attack patients. Within 24 hours of the heart attack, the patient’s adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells are extracted and injected into the coronary artery. In May, the company announced that patients had experienced a substantial reduction in heart damage, as well as improved blood supply to the heart. A clinical trial of patients with chronic cardiac ischemia has had positive outcomes as well, with patients demonstrating improved heart function. Cytori is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin conducting clinical trials of the Celution System in the U.S. The company is exploring other applications of its Celution technology, including cardiovascular disease, urinary incontinence, wound healing, liver and kidney failure, pancreatitis and spinal disc disease.

Cytori operates within what is expected to be a high-demand sector in the coming years: The market for regenerative medicine could grow from $1.6 billion to $15 to $20 billion by 2025, says biotech and medical consulting firm Scientia Advisors.

Cytori is scheduled to present at the OneMedForum San Francisco conference in January. To learn more about the conference, which is expected to highlight dozens of emerging growth healthcare companies, visit http://www.onemedplace.com/forum.

Technological advances are not only allowing people worldwide to live longer, they are creating more work for the radiologists who interpret image slices from the MRIs, CT, and PET-CT scans undergone by patients. Digital scanning systems can now generate 100 to 7,000 image slices per image study. The number of images that radiologists must work with daily is expected to increase dramatically over the next few years, from an average of 15,000 image slices per day to well over 100,000 per day, predicts Dr. Eliot Siegel, Professor and Vice Chairman University of Maryland’s Department of Diagnostic Radiology. The workload for radiologists is expected to more than triple over the next three years. The entire process of interpreting a diagnostic scan and generating a report can take 2 to 3 days.

Software company DataPhysics Research (DPR) has developed a workflow solution that, according to company estimates, could cut this time by as much as 40 percent. The Danville, Calif.-based company offers CaseReader, a software solution that is designed to deliver faster, more accurate analysis of image scans. Radiologists must currently create a 3-D reconstruction of the patient’s system from the 2-D image slices. CaseReader has the ability to create this 3-D reconstruction for them. The system can also generate a structured report based upon the radiologist’s impressions during the review process, eliminating the need for a medical transcriptionist to write up the radiologist’s notes. By condensing these crucial steps in the radiologist’s workflow, CaseReader has the potential to save both time and money while improving the accuracy of diagnostic readings.

DPR is scheduled to present at the OneMedForum San Francisco 2011. Investors will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from numerous emerging growth healthcare companies. To learn more about the conference, visit http://www.onemedplace.com/forum.

The urological device market is expected to experience strong growth as well. Market research firm iData forecasts that the U.S. market for urological devices to treat conditions such as incontinence and prostate cancer will more than double in value by 2016 to $5.4 billion. Growth is anticipated to be driven by improved diagnosis rates, particularly for prostate cancer. Companies in the urological device space include Uroplasty, which has developed an electrical stimulation system and tissue bulking material to treat incontinence; and Novasys Medical, developer of a non-surgical procedure that utilizes radiofrequency energy to treat tissue within the lower urinary tract.

A relatively new company in this space is EMKinetics, a medical startup that uses electric pulse therapy to treat urinary incontinence. Earlier this year, the California-based company brought in $2.8 million of a targeted $3.35 million round of equity. The company previously raised $500,000 in September 2008. One of its backers is TheraNova, a San Francisco-based biomedical device holding company. According to the San Jose Business Journal, EMKinetics licensed its neurostimulation technology from TheraNova.

Interested parties will have a chance to learn more about EMKinetics at the next OneMedForum healthcare conference, to take place on January 11-13, 2011 in San Francisco. Visit http://www.onemedplace.com/forum to discover why the OneMedForum San Francisco 2011 presents a valuable opportunity for investors to connect with the promising life sciences companies poised to change the face of healthcare.

The ANS may also provide vital clues to patient health. One clinical measurement of growing importance is heart rate variability (HRV), or the variation in intervals between beats of the heart. Low heart rate variability is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death in patients who have experienced acute myocardial infarction. It is also associated with diabetic neuropathy. HRV is widely believed to be an indicator of overall ANS health.

One company focused on the analysis of HRV is IntelleWave, a medical device company based in Edison, N.J. The company has developed a non-invasive, fully automated monitoring device that provides HRV and blood pressure analysis for the quantitative assessment of the ANS. It is the first and only system of its kind on the market today, and the first to use artificial intelligence technology. Physicians may be able to combine HRV analysis with other clinical data to assess the overall status of the ANS and improve patient care.

IntelleWave is scheduled to present at the OneMedForum San Francisco 2011. Private and public companies selected to make presentations at the January conference are vetted by advisory board members with scientific, medical, regulatory and financial expertise. To learn more about the conference, which connects emerging healthcare companies to investors and strategic partners, visit http://www.onemedplace.com/forum.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of leukemia in adults. According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 12,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with and 9,000 will die from AML in 2010. An estimated 47,000 patients in the European Union currently suffer from AML. Many AML patients are successfully treated with chemotherapy drugs, typically experiencing complete remission. However, the majority (75-80%) of patients will experience a relapse of leukemia, usually within one to two years. There are currently no approved, effective remission therapies for AML in the U.S.

EpiCept’s lead product, Ceplene, is approved for marketing in the EU for the maintenance of first remission in patients with AML. The drug is administered in conjunction with a low-dose form of the cancer drug interleukin. In a Phase III study, Ceplene increased leukemia-free survival among AML patients in remission. Ceplene has been granted Orphan Drug Status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The company has two other cancer fighters in its pipeline: Crolibulin and EP90745, both formulated to induce apoptosis (cell death) in tumor cells. Myrexis Pharmaceuticals (formerly Myriad Pharmaceuticals) has agreed to handle the development and commercialization of EP90745, a series of apoptosis-inducing anticancer compounds. One of the compounds, Azixa, is undergoing clinical trials to treat brain cancer as well as metastatic melanoma.

EpiCept is also developing an analgesic cream for the relief of peripheral neuropathy (nerve pain) due to diabetes, chemotherapy or shingles in adults. EpiCept NP-1 cream contains two FDA-approved drugs, amitriptyline (an antidepressant) and ketamine (used as an anesthetic). The cream has been tested on over 850 patients in 7 trials to date, and was found to be significantly superior compared to placebo in a Phase IIb trial of 360 patients with post-herpetic neuralgia.

The OneMedForum San Francisco 2011, to be held in January, will feature corporate presentations from numerous emerging healthcare companies, including EpiCept. To learn more about the conference, visit http://www.onemedplace.com/forum