Researchers at the Jagiellonian University (UJ) have developed an innovative therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis, based on the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The formulation, known as MesoCellA-Ortho, has already successfully completed phase I and II clinical trials. It is among the most advanced medical undertakings to be developed within an academic setting in Poland. 

The project is led by a research team under Professor Ewa Zuba-Surma, from the Department of Cell Biology at the Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Biotechnology at Jagiellonian University, in cooperation with Galen-Ortopedia Ltd. in Bieruń, where the clinical trials were conducted. 

The therapy is based on a comprehensive, proprietary process for obtaining MSCs from the patient’s adipose tissue, multiplying them under pharmaceutical conditions, and delivering them as a medication to the affected joint. Thanks to their regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties, these cells not only reduce pain but also support the reconstruction of damaged tissues. 

In clinical studies involving nearly 200 patients, researchers observed a significant reduction in pain symptoms and improved joint functionality. Positive structural changes were also confirmed in both cartilage and bone. The therapy did not cause any side effects, and the outcomes observed in patients were consistent with the results of preclinical studies conducted on an animal model. 

MesoCellA-Ortho is part of a group of innovative personalized therapies that rely on natural biological mechanisms and autologous cellular material, reducing the risk of complications and enhancing treatment effectiveness. 

Preparations are currently underway for phase III clinical trials. Jagiellonian University—through its Technology Transfer Center CITTRU—is seeking a partner from the MedTech sector to join in the commercialization and technology transfer process. 

The therapy has already received prestigious distinctions, including the title of Polish Product of the Future awarded by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) and the Economic Award of the President of the Republic of Poland in the “Research and Development” category.