ChitogenX Inc. announced that ORTHO-R, its proprietary chitosan/PRP based biopolymer matrix, has successfully demonstrated protection from joint degeneration post meniscal repair surgery in a large animal study. In a study of 22 mature sheep, a radial meniscus tear was surgically induced and immediately surgically repaired. The sheep were randomized to three groups: surgery alone,ii) surgery and PRP, and surgery + ORTHO-R and PRP combined.

Results were observed 6 months post-surgery. Results showed that the large majority of menisci from the two control groups (surgery alone or surgery + PRP alone) experienced severe structural changes and most control sheep displayed moderate to severe signs of osteoarthritis ("OA"). The medial menisci from the ORTHO-R treated group retained better structure and much milder form of OA and, in some cases, appeared near normal.

This study provides the first evidence that treatment with ChitogenX's proprietary chitosan-based biopolymer + PRP prevents structural changes to radially incised and sutured menisci in a large animal model, and most likely contributed to protecting the joints against OA development. This study contributes to a growing and strong body of evidence that the Company's proprietary chitosan -based biopolymer, combined with PRP can potentially bring significant benefit to human tissue repair.