SEOUL, Korea – Regenerative medicine specialist L&C Bio announced on April 8 that a clinical study on its knee osteoarthritis treatment device, MegaCarti®, has been selected as the Best Research Paper of 2024 by the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine (OJSM).

OJSM is the official SCI-level academic journal of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM), founded in 1972 and recognized globally for excellence in orthopaedic research. The MegaCarti® clinical study, published last year, was chosen from among all papers featured in the journal in 2023. The award will be presented at the AOSSM 2024 Annual Meeting, to be held in Denver, Colorado on July 10.

The awarded paper, titled:
“A Comparison Between Microfracture Combined with Particulate Costal Allograft Cartilage and Microfracture Alone for Focal Chondral Defects of the Knee: A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized, Participant- and Evaluator-Blinded Study”, highlights the effectiveness of MegaCarti® in cartilage regeneration.

The study involved 90 patients with advanced degenerative osteoarthritis (ICRS Grade 3–4). Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one received standard microfracture surgery combined with MegaCarti®, and the other received microfracture alone. After 48 weeks, the MegaCarti® group showed significantly higher cartilage regeneration, as measured by the MOCART score (56.0 ± 10.5 vs. 43.0 ± 17.4 in the control group).

The MegaCarti® group also experienced notable reductions in pain, demonstrated through VAS (Visual Analog Scale) and KOOS (Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score) evaluations conducted at 12, 24, and 48 weeks.

Contributing authors included renowned professors from major Korean medical institutions:

• Prof. Sung-Hwan Kim and Prof. Sung-Jun Kim (Gangnam Severance Hospital)

• Prof. Min Jung (Shinchon Severance Hospital)

• Prof. Kwang-Ho Jung (Yongin Severance Hospital)

• Prof. Gi-Mo Jang (Korea University Anam Hospital)

• Prof. Sang-Hoon Park (Ilsan Hospital)

A representative from L&C Bio commented,

“Being selected for OJSM’s Best Research Paper of 2024 affirms MegaCarti®’s effectiveness not only in regenerating cartilage but also in restoring joint function. It establishes MegaCarti® as a proven and internationally recognized treatment option for degenerative osteoarthritis.”