E.1 Medical condition or disease under investigation |
E.1.1 | Medical condition(s) being investigated |
Patients must display 1-2 symptomatic, focal cartilage lesion grade IIIIV (according to the grading by the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS)) from 2 to 8 cm2 on the femoral condyle and/or the trochlea, have to be between 18-65 years old and must consent in oral and written manner in order to be enrolled in the study. |
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E.1.1.1 | Medical condition in easily understood language |
Patients must display 1-2 severe, symptomatic,cartilage lesion from 2 to 8 cm2 in the knee, have to be between 18-65 years old and must consent in order to be enrolled in the study. |
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E.1.1.2 | Therapeutic area | Not possible to specify |
MedDRA Classification |
E.1.2 Medical condition or disease under investigation |
E.1.2 | Version | 20.0 |
E.1.2 | Level | LLT |
E.1.2 | Classification code | 10072638 |
E.1.2 | Term | Articular cartilage defect |
E.1.2 | System Organ Class | 100000004859 |
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E.1.3 | Condition being studied is a rare disease | No |
E.2 Objective of the trial |
E.2.1 | Main objective of the trial |
This proposed phase II trial seeks to primarily define whether a tissue therapy for cartilage repair in the knee will improve the clinical efficacy for the patient, leading to an increase of at least 10 points in the main primary outcome (self-assessed score KOOS) after 24 months as compared to the cell therapy group. Comparison between groups will allow assessment of whether the tissue therapy is superior to the cell therapy. The KOOS score will be used to measure the primary outcome. The primary endpoint is the difference in the KOOS at 24 months between the two techniques (comparison of the efficacy of the technique). The KOOS score, covering the fields of Symptoms, Pain, Activities of daily life, Sport activities and Quality of life, is suitable for assessing the improvement for the patient. This validated questionnaire is widely used to assess efficacy of cartilage repair therapies. |
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E.2.2 | Secondary objectives of the trial |
The stability and integration as well as the morphological properties of the graft will be assessed by the MOCART Score. The remodeling of the tissue after implantation towards native cartilage will be assessed by dGEMRIC evaluation (MRI) from the 24- month assessment of the relative ΔR1. The KOOS will be recorded for patients at baseline visit 1 or 2 and at the 12- and 24-month follow-up assessments. Variations over time will be recorded through completion of the questionnaires at enrolment and at each follow-up visit (12 and 24 months after treatment). Retrospectively data will be analyzed to identify the possibility of treatment selection (tissue therapy vs. cell therapy) in relation to the time after onset of symptoms (acute vs chronic cartilage lesions) in order to determine if one treatment is more beneficial than the other (e.g. higher stability, better integration etc.). The study will evaluate the safety by the number of SADRs or SUSARs. |
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E.2.3 | Trial contains a sub-study | No |
E.3 | Principal inclusion criteria |
• Patient is ≥18 and ≤65 years old at time of screening. • Patient has a localized articular cartilage defect of the femoral condyle and/or the trochlea of the knee. 2 localized cartilage defects are accepted if the total defect size is ≤ 8 cm2, both cartilage defects are located at the femoral condyle and/or the trochlea and both cartilage defects are to be treated with N-CAM or N-TEC. • Patient has a defect of grade 3 or 4 according to the ICRS classification. • Patient has a defect size ≥2 and ≤8 cm2 as assessed by MRI/arthroscopy. • Patient has an opposite intact (≤ICRS Grade 2) articulating joint surface (no "kissing lesions"). • Patient has an intact meniscus (maximum 1/2-resection). • Patient has a stable knee joint or sufficiently reconstructed ligaments. If not, ligament repair has to be done during the operation or within 6 weeks of the planned cartilage treatment. • Patient has a maximum baseline score of 75/100 in the KOOS subjective knee evaluation. • Patient is willing and able to give written informed consent to participate in the study and to comply with all study requirements, including attending all follow-up visits and assessments and to complete postoperative rehabilitation regimen. • Patient has free range of motion of the affected knee joint or ≤ 10° of extension and flexion loss. |
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E.4 | Principal exclusion criteria |
• Patient is unable to understand the patient information • Patient is unable to undergo magnetic resonance imaging or is sensitive to gadolinium • Patient has had prior surgical treatment of the target knee within 12 months using mosaicplasty and/or microfracture. Anterior cruciate ligament repair is accepted, if the target knee is stable or a primary ACL reconstruction is performed within 6 weeks of the planned cartilage treatment. • Patient has a relevant meniscus tear. Partial meniscal removal allowed, if not exceeding 1/2. Suture of meniscocapsular separation is allowed. Suture of meniscus tear is allowed if the same compartment is not afflicted by symptomatic cartilage injury, and the graft is planned for trochlea and/or contralateral compartment. If the same compartment is afflicted, suture is not allowed in parallel, but if successful, cartilage treatment might be added 12 months later. • Patient has radiologically apparent degenerative joint disease in the target knee as determined by Kellgren and Lawrence grade >2. • Patient has evidence of joint disease e.g. chronic inflammatory arthritis, and/or infectious arthritis. • Patient has an unstable knee joint or insufficiently reconstructed ligaments. If ligament repair is necessary, the repair has to be performed during the operation or within 6 weeks of the planned cartilage treatment. • Patient has malalignment (no valgus- or varus-deformity) in the target knee ≥ 5°. In suspected cases, the mechanical axis must be established radiographically through complete leg imaging during standing and in a.p. or rather p.a. projection. If alignment surgery is necessary, surgery has to be performed within 6 weeks of the planned cartilage treatment. • Patient has an osteochondral defect which cannot be reconstructed. Bone marrow edema is allowed. • Any concomitant painful or disabling disease of the spine, hips, or lower limbs that would interfere with evaluation of the afflicted knee. • Patient has a known systemic connective tissue disease. • Patient has a known autoimmune disease. • Patient has a known immunological suppressive disorder or is taking immunosuppressives. • Patient is currently systemically or intra-articularly taking steroids and/or has used steroids within the 30 days prior to the planned treatment. • The patient has a known history of HIV/AIDS. • The patient has a known history of Treponema pallidum • The patient has an active hepatitis B or C infection with verified antigens. Patients with a cured hepatitis B or C infection and/or verified antibodies are not excluded. • The patient has at the site of surgery an active systemic or local microbial infection, eczematization or inflammable skin alterations, Leishmaniasis, persistent bacterial infections, such as Brucellosis, spotted and typhus fever, other Rickettsiosis, Leprosy, Recurrent Fever, Melioidosis or Tularaemia). • Patient has a known history of cancer. • Patient has a known history of primary hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, reduced kidney function (GFR < 80 ml/min), or prior pathological fractures, independent of the genesis. • Patient has any degenerative muscular, vascular or neurological condition that would interfere with evaluation of outcome measures including but not limited to Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or multiple sclerosis (MS). • Patient has a body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m2. • Patient is pregnant, lactating or anticipates becoming pregnant within 24 months after surgery. • Patient is currently participating, or has participated in any other clinical study within 3 months prior to the screening visit. • Patient has known current or recent history of illicit drug or alcohol abuse or dependence defined as the continued use of alcohol or drugs despite the development of social, legal or health problems. • Patient has psychiatric or cognitive impairment that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the patient's ability to comply with the study requirements • Patient has any other condition, which, in the opinion of the investigator, would make the patient unsuitable for the study. • Patient is unable to tolerate local anesthesia • Any known allergies, especially for porcine collagen, penicillin or streptomycin • Patient is unwilling and/or unable to give written informed consent to participate in the study and to comply with all study requirements, including attending all follow-up visits and assessments and to complete postoperative rehabilitation regimen. Intraoperative Exclusion Criteria: • Patient has a total defect size <2 or defect size extends graft size and could therefore not be treated in total. • Patient has >2 independent cartilage lesions • Patient has symptomatic full-thickness (ICRS Grade 3 or 4) of patella or tibial plateau. |
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E.5 End points |
E.5.1 | Primary end point(s) |
KOOS score: The primary endpoint is the KOOS subjective score at the 24-month visit. The difference in the KOOS-score will be compared between the two groups (Comparison of Efficacy of Treatment) |
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E.5.1.1 | Timepoint(s) of evaluation of this end point |
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E.5.2 | Secondary end point(s) |
MOCART Score (MRI): The MRI will be performed at 3, 12, 24 months follow-up visits and MOCART scores calculated. (Assessment of stability and integration) • dGEMRIC evaluation (MRI): The relative delta R1 will be evaluated by dGEMRIC and recorded at 3, 12, 24 months follow-up visits and referenced to the native cartilage of the treated knee. (Assessment of quality of the repair tissue) • A further questionnaire (EQ-5d) at 12 and 24 month and an additional time point (12 month) for KOOS will allow the more detailed analysis of the clinical development of the patient's recovery and elucidate changes in the perceived quality of life before and after treatment. Other outcomes: • Retrospective analysis of primary and secondary endpoint data with regard to the onset of symptoms to identify a possible selection of treatment of acute (onset < 1 years) or chronic (onset >1 years) lesions Safety: • Any AE and SAEs will be recorded regarding event descriptions, onset, resolution dates and relationship to the IMP. All SADR or SUSAR will be reported to Basel as leading center and the respective authorities. |
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E.5.2.1 | Timepoint(s) of evaluation of this end point |
MRI and dGEMRIC will be performed at 3, 12, 24 months follow-up. questionnaires will be performed after 12 and 24 months follow-up. Retrospective Analysis will be performed at the end of the study. AEs will be recorded throughout the study. |
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E.6 and E.7 Scope of the trial |
E.6 | Scope of the trial |
E.6.1 | Diagnosis | No |
E.6.2 | Prophylaxis | No |
E.6.3 | Therapy | Yes |
E.6.4 | Safety | Yes |
E.6.5 | Efficacy | Yes |
E.6.6 | Pharmacokinetic | No |
E.6.7 | Pharmacodynamic | No |
E.6.8 | Bioequivalence | No |
E.6.9 | Dose response | No |
E.6.10 | Pharmacogenetic | No |
E.6.11 | Pharmacogenomic | No |
E.6.12 | Pharmacoeconomic | No |
E.6.13 | Others | No |
E.7 | Trial type and phase |
E.7.1 | Human pharmacology (Phase I) | No |
E.7.1.1 | First administration to humans | No |
E.7.1.2 | Bioequivalence study | No |
E.7.1.3 | Other | No |
E.7.1.3.1 | Other trial type description | |
E.7.2 | Therapeutic exploratory (Phase II) | Yes |
E.7.3 | Therapeutic confirmatory (Phase III) | No |
E.7.4 | Therapeutic use (Phase IV) | No |
E.8 Design of the trial |
E.8.1 | Controlled | No |
E.8.1.1 | Randomised | Yes |
E.8.1.2 | Open | Yes |
E.8.1.3 | Single blind | No |
E.8.1.4 | Double blind | No |
E.8.1.5 | Parallel group | No |
E.8.1.6 | Cross over | No |
E.8.1.7 | Other | Yes |
E.8.1.7.1 | Other trial design description |
two treatment arms (N-TEC and N-CAM) |
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E.8.2 | Comparator of controlled trial |
E.8.2.1 | Other medicinal product(s) | No |
E.8.2.2 | Placebo | No |
E.8.2.3 | Other | No |
E.8.2.4 | Number of treatment arms in the trial | 2 |
E.8.3 |
The trial involves single site in the Member State concerned
| No |
E.8.4 | The trial involves multiple sites in the Member State concerned | Yes |
E.8.4.1 | Number of sites anticipated in Member State concerned | 2 |
E.8.5 | The trial involves multiple Member States | Yes |
E.8.5.1 | Number of sites anticipated in the EEA | 5 |
E.8.6 Trial involving sites outside the EEA |
E.8.6.1 | Trial being conducted both within and outside the EEA | Yes |
E.8.6.2 | Trial being conducted completely outside of the EEA | No |
E.8.6.3 | If E.8.6.1 or E.8.6.2 are Yes, specify the regions in which trial sites are planned |
Croatia |
Germany |
Italy |
Switzerland |
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E.8.7 | Trial has a data monitoring committee | Yes |
E.8.8 |
Definition of the end of the trial and justification where it is not the last
visit of the last subject undergoing the trial
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last visit of last Patient in the trial |
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E.8.9 Initial estimate of the duration of the trial |
E.8.9.1 | In the Member State concerned years | 4 |
E.8.9.1 | In the Member State concerned months | 0 |
E.8.9.1 | In the Member State concerned days | 0 |
E.8.9.2 | In all countries concerned by the trial years | 4 |
E.8.9.2 | In all countries concerned by the trial months | 0 |
E.8.9.2 | In all countries concerned by the trial days | 0 |