Drug solution for bone fracture nonunions

Project Information

OSTEOforUNION

Grant agreement ID: 101189252

DOI

10.3030/101189252

EC signature date 11 December 2024

Start date 1 January 2025

End date 31 December 2026

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 2 499 999,00

Coordinated by

GENERA ISTRAZIVANJA DRUSTVO S OGRANICENOM ODGOVORNOSCU ZA PROIZVODNJU BIOTEHNOLOSKIH PROIZVODA
Croatia

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - OSTEOforUNION (Drug solution for bone fracture nonunions)

Reporting period: 2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Bone fracture nonunion (FNU) is a serious medical condition in which a broken bone fails to heal properly. Although only a small percentage of fractures develop into nonunions, the overall burden is high due to the large number of fractures worldwide. Patients with FNUs often suffer from long-term pain, repeated surgeries, reduced mobility, loss of quality of life and prolonged absence from work. Current standard treatments rely mainly on harvesting bone from the patient’s own body, an invasive procedure associated with additional pain, complications and significant healthcare costs. Despite this unmet clinical need, no biological drug is currently approved specifically for the treatment of bone fracture nonunions.
The OSTEOforUNION project addresses this gap by developing and preparing for market entry a novel biological drug, OSTEOGROW-C, designed to stimulate natural bone regeneration. The project is embedded in the broader European policy context of strengthening innovation in healthcare, reducing the burden of chronic conditions, improving patient outcomes, and supporting the competitiveness of European biotechnology companies. By advancing a new regenerative therapy, the project contributes to EU priorities in health innovation, sustainability of healthcare systems and strategic autonomy in advanced medical technologies.
The overall objective of OSTEOforUNION is to complete the late-stage clinical development, regulatory preparation and manufacturing readiness of OSTEOGROW-C so that it will become the first approved biological treatment for bone fracture nonunions. The project pathway to impact is based on efficacy and safety, enabling regulatory approval in Europe and internationally, and preparing the conditions for rapid uptake in clinical practice. At scale, OSTEOGROW-C has the potential to significantly reduce complications, shorten recovery times, lower long-term healthcare, and decrease societal costs associated with non-healing fractures. It might eliminate the need to use patients’ own bones as a therapy for bone FNUs, relieving patients of pain and possible complications linked to bone harvesting.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project builds on extensive prior research and development and focuses on the final steps needed to bring OSTEOGROW-C to patients. Core activities include optimization and scaling of the production process for the active biological component recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 6 (rhBMP6), ensuring consistent quality and compliance with pharmaceutical manufacturing standards (GMP). In parallel, the final configuration of the OSTEOGROW-C kit has been refined to support safe and reproducible use in surgical settings.
A central achievement of the project is the advancement of clinical validation. OSTEOGROW-C has already demonstrated favorable safety and efficacy outcomes in earlier clinical case reports and preclinical studies across several bone indications. OSTEOforUNION pivotal Phase II/III clinical trial for long bone fracture nonunions is under regulatory exploration, clinical sites in the EU, UK and US have been selected and have provided a list of patients with bone FNUs, which will support rapid recruitment. OCEAN clinical study trial is designed to confirm the therapeutic benefit of OSTEOGROW-C and to generate robust data for regulatory submissions and marketing approval.
In parallel, the innovative protocol is under discussion with EMA, MHRA and FDA. The development of quality systems needed for marketing authorization is underway, and strengthening of internal capacities for pharmacovigilance, quality assurance and supply chain readiness is under construction. Together, these activities represent a major step toward transforming a clinically validated innovation into an approved, deployable medical therapy.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

OSTEOforUNION delivers results that go beyond the current state of the art in bone regeneration. OSTEOGROW-C introduces a new therapeutic concept that uses the patient’s own blood as a natural carrier for rhbMP6 and synthetic ceramics transforming blood to bone. This approach eliminates the need for harvesting bone from the patient, reducing surgical trauma and associated risks, while actively stimulating the body’s own bone-forming processes.
The project’s results point to a paradigm shift in how fracture nonunions can be treated: from invasive, resource-intensive procedures toward a personalized, biologically driven solution. When widely adopted, the technology will accelerate bone healing, reduce repeated surgeries and improve functional recovery. Beyond fracture nonunions, the underlying platform opens pathways for future applications in other orthopaedic and dental indications.
For further uptake and long-term success, continued regulatory engagement, market access strategies and partnerships with established healthcare industry actors are essential. The project has laid the groundwork for these next steps, enabling subsequent commercialization, internationalization and integration into routine clinical practice.

Bone fracture nonunion and regeneration outcome in human patient

Small amount of the patient’s blood is combined with a biological growth factor

preparation and application of the personalised implant during a standard orthopaedic procedure