FEtal-inspired biomaterials as a Novel therapy for spine regeneration using decellularized matrIX

Objetivo

Low back pain (LBP) is an immense public health challenge affecting an estimated 619 million people worldwide as of 2020 and projected to reach 843 million by 2050. In the EU, recent analyses indicate that the point prevalence of LBP among adults exceeds 44%.
A key underlying cause of LBP, which affect up to 85% of the global population and ranking first among age-related disabilities worldwide, is intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), an age-related, progressive condition responsible for most chronic back pain cases. Degeneration is driven by loss of disc cells and deterioration of essential structural proteins such as Aggrecan and Collagen II, leading to reduced hydration, impaired biomechanics, and a destructive cycle of extracellular matrix breakdown. As degeneration progresses, the disc becomes prone to herniation, directly contributing to spinal pain.
Current IVDD treatments provide only temporary symptom relief being unable to restore a functional tissue. Besides, conservative care carries risks ranging from cardiovascular complications to addiction. When these options fail, patients may undergo surgery, but procedures remain costly, invasive, and inaccessible for many. Eligibility is often limited by socioeconomic factors, long recovery periods, unpredictable outcomes, and significant gender and age disparities, leaving many patients undertreated.
For that, FETALIX developed a disruptive regenerative solution to treat and prevent IVDD and LBP extending healthspan. It consists in a biocompatible and off-the-shelf injectable biomaterial that is endowed with regenerative and anti-angiogenic properties since it is obtained from mammalian fetal by-products. This allows re-establishing biological cues once present in embryonic development and long lost with ageing, thus resulting in enhanced remodeling of the disc matrix and restoration of the mechanical properties of healthy tissue showcasing a full regenerative effect.