Regenerative medicine researcher Orthocell has revealed trial results from a rat study showing that its artificial membrane CelGro can help accelerate bone re-growth.

Orthocell (ASX:OCC) was presenting at the 26th European Orthopaedic Research Society meeting in Ireland, where it presented the positive pre-clinical results in enhancing repair of cortical bone.

The trial, done in rats, paired CelGro with bone growth factors, indicated that Orthocell’s technology “can accelerate and augment the repair of fractures with cortical bone defects”.

The shares rose 10 per cent to an intraday high of 28.5c on the news.

Growth factors are naturally occurring substances which are capable of stimulating growth.

Cortical bone is the hard outer layer of bone, which makes up about 75 per cent of the total bone mass of an adult. Cortical bone is covered by periosteum on the outside, which is a membrane which helps facilitate growth.

CelGro is a collagen medical device that facilitates tissue repair and healing which Orthocell says can be used in a variety of orthopaedic, reconstructive and surgical applications. In this case, it was used as an artificial periosteum.

Orthocell shares. (ASX:OCC)

So far, it has been used in human trials to treat shoulder injuries and patients who have had dental bones removed, as well as cartilage tissue in the knee and severed nerve tissue.

The company has European regulatory approval for CelGro, meaning it can be marketed and sold in the EU for a range of dental bone and soft tissue regeneration procedures.

Paul Anderson, managing director, told Stockhead the studies were being conducted as an adjunct to regulatory approval.

“We are thrilled with the results which indicate CelGro has the potential to aid in accelerating the repair of critical bone defects,” Mr Anderson said.

“A breakthrough in the ability to improve patient outcomes following serious bone fractures would have significant implications for the wider orthopaedic community.”

Mr Anderson said that CelGro provided a solution for the current use of bone growth factors.

“Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are used to enhance bone growth but they are applied in a rudimentary way, like a pepper shaker, so the ability for them to be targeted and delivered at the right volumes is big,” he told Stockhead.

Deepak Raina, head researcher, said “in cortical defects an artificial periosteum like CelGro, carrying active bone proteins, has proved successful in regenerating bone”.