The technology behind the treatment
DiscGenics is a biotechnology company that is currently trying to develop an exciting, new, injectable treatment that aims to regenerate the invertebral discs in the spine with the aim of reducing pain and improve the function in patients who have degenerative (‘wear and tear’) disc disease in the spine which causes back pain. Trials are currently underway in the USA and Japan although they are still at the very early stages but early early reports have suggested that this is potentially a regenerative treatment for ‘mild to moderate’ degenerative disc disease.
DiscGenics have developed a product called IDCT which uses biomedically engineered vertebral disc cells, called Discogenic Cells, that have the ability to make new, healthy disc cells. The Discogenic cells not only have the ability to make new disc cells but are also anti-inflammatory and can produce special molecules that provide support and structure to the disc. The idea is that the new cells, which will reproduce, and make the disc healthy (or healthier) again and therefore reduce the back pain and increase the movement and function of the spine. The procedure would also be minimally invasive and performed by injecting the Discogenic cells into the affected disc.
Although it is some way off, if the trials are successful, this may revolutionise the lives of millions of back pain suffers around the world.
