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AssigneesAlkermes Controlled Therapeutics, Inc., University of Massachusetts
InventorsHenry R. Costantino, Lawrence J. Bonassar, Mark A. Tracy
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The invention relates to an improved method for administering live cells to a patient and compositions useful in the method. The composition comprises live cells and biocompatible, biodegradable polymer microparticles. The cells and microparticles of the cell/microparticle composition can be contacted immediately prior to administration, or can be contacted in culture for a specified period of time prior to administration. In the method of the invention, an effective amount of the cell/microparticle composition is administered to a patient in need thereof by injection to a treatment site of the patient to provide a therapeutic effect in the patient. The therapeutic effect can be, for example, the formation of new tissue at the treatment site, or the production and secretion of a biologically active secretory molecule at the treatment site. The composition comprising lives cells and biocompatible, biodegradable polymer microparticles can further comprise a biologically active agent. In a preferred embodiment, the biologically active agent is incorporated into the microparticle. The biologically active agent can be, for example, factors which modulate cell growth.
A method of generating cartilage tissue in a patient in need thereof consisting essentially of administering by injection to a treatment site of the patient without open surgery to expose the treatment site an effective amount of a composition consisting essentially of live chondrocytes and biocompatible, biodegradable polymer microparticles wherein, the microparticles are injected in an amount sufficient to provide a surface for the chondrocytes to grow and generate said tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.