Bacterin reports positive outcome from 2 year study of OsteoSponge

Bacterin International Holdings (AMEX:BONE) announced Tuesday positive results from a two year study of OsteoSponge, a bone scaffold that helps with spinal fusion.
The two-year post-operative, clinical data showed OsteoSponge to be equivalent to rhBMP-2 in achieving an interbody fusion, the company said.
The results were based on radiographic assessment, CT scans, and quality of life outcomes.
In addition, patients receiving the OsteoSponge graft reported "statistically significant" less leg pain at one year relative to the rhBMP-2 group. The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers at the Salt Lake Orthopaedic Clinic, Spine Surgery of Salt Lake City.
"Since OsteoSponge has been released, surgeons have used our bone graft implants more than 100,000 times, and this latest study further validates its effectiveness in spinal fusion surgery," said chairman and CEO, Guy Cook.
"Surgeons noted our product's unique handling properties, ability to irrigate the site, and quick insertion of the OsteoSponge scaffold into the PEEK cage."
OsteoSponge is used in conjunction with the patients' own bone marrow aspirate.
The two year study, which tested the effectiveness of the OsteoSponge for lumbar spinal fusion, was presented at EuroSpine 2011 in Milan, Italy last week, and will be presented at the 2012 AAOS Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
Bacterin's proprietary methods optimize the growth factors in human allografts to create the ideal stem cell scaffold to promote bone repair and dermal growth.
These products are used in a variety of applications including enhancing fusion in spine surgery, relief of back pain, promotion of bone growth in foot and ankle surgery, promotion of cranial healing following neurosurgery and subchondral repair in knee and other joint surgeries.
Shares of Bacterin rose 2.79 percent on Wednesday, to trade at $2.95 as of 1:52pm ET.