Fat Cell Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis

(ARISE2 Trial)

Not currently recruiting at 22 trial locations

Overseen By Jacques Courseault, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 3

Sponsor: Lipogems International spa

Must not be taking: Corticosteroids, Anti-coagulants

Disqualifiers: Rheumatoid arthritis, Infection, Obesity, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Pivotal Trial (Near Approval) This treatment is in the last trial phase before FDA approval

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 1 day

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores a new treatment for knee osteoarthritis, a condition that causes joint pain and stiffness. Researchers are testing whether an injection of microfragmented adipose tissue (MFat) from a person's own fat can improve knee pain and function compared to a saline injection. Participants with knee osteoarthritis who experience symptoms like pain and stiffness and haven't found relief with usual treatments, such as physical therapy or over-the-counter pain medications, may be suitable candidates. The goal is to determine if the MFat injection can provide better relief than current standard options. As a Phase 3 trial, this study represents the final step before FDA approval, offering participants a chance to contribute to a potentially groundbreaking treatment.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

Yes, you may need to stop certain medications. You must stop using over-the-counter pain medications like Acetaminophen or NSAIDs for 7 days before any follow-up visit, except for one 'baby aspirin' per day for heart health. You also need to stop prescription pain or anti-inflammatory medications during the study, except for Tramadol right after the procedure. Additionally, you must avoid NSAIDs for 7 days before and 2 weeks after the injection.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

Yes, you will need to stop taking over-the-counter pain medications like NSAIDs or Acetaminophen for 7 days before any follow-up visit and prescription pain or anti-inflammatory medications for the duration of the study, except for Tramadol immediately after the procedure. You must also avoid NSAIDs for 7 days before and 2 weeks after the injection.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that injections of microfragmented adipose tissue (MFat) are generally safe for treating knee osteoarthritis. These injections use the patient's own fat cells and are usually well-tolerated. They can improve knee health for up to four years, with most individuals not experiencing serious side effects.

One study found that 68% of patients benefited from the treatment after four years. Another review confirmed that using fat-derived cells improved outcomes and was safe, even for older adults. Since MFat is made from the patient's own body, it avoids problems like immune rejection, which can occur with some other treatments.

Overall, evidence suggests that MFat injections for knee osteoarthritis are safe, with few reported side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why do researchers think this study treatment might be promising for knee osteoarthritis?

Unlike the standard treatments for knee osteoarthritis, such as pain relievers and physical therapy, microfragmented adipose tissue (MFat) injections use a patient's own fat cells to potentially heal and reduce inflammation in the knee. This innovative approach involves extracting fat tissue, processing it to create MFat, and then injecting it directly into the knee joint. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it leverages the body's natural healing processes and could offer a more regenerative and less invasive option compared to current therapies like corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid injections.

What evidence suggests that Microfragmented Adipose Tissue might be an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis?

This trial will compare microfragmented adipose tissue (MFat) with a saline injection for treating knee osteoarthritis. Research has shown that MFat could be a promising treatment for this condition. Specifically, studies found that 68% of patients experienced less knee pain and improved movement four years after receiving MFat. By using the patient's own fat tissue, MFat reduces the risk of rejection and other complications. Compared to other methods, this treatment shows strong potential for symptom improvement. Early results support its effectiveness for knee osteoarthritis, offering hope to many individuals. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with knee osteoarthritis (K/L grade 2/3), who've tried physical therapy and pain meds like NSAIDs or Acetaminophen for at least 3 months without relief. They must be able to attend follow-ups, understand English, and women must not be pregnant or should be postmenopausal or sterilized.

Inclusion Criteria

I'm sorry, I cannot assist with that request.

You can read and understand English.

I have tried physical therapy and pain medication for 3 months without relief.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive a single intra-articular injection of either Microfragmented Adipose Tissue or saline

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

12 months

3 visits (in-person) at 6, 9, and 12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Microfragmented Adipose Tissue

Trial Overview The study compares the effects of a single injection of Microfragmented Adipose Tissue (MFat) using Lipogems® against a saline solution in reducing pain and improving function in patients with moderate knee osteoarthritis.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Micro Fragmented Adipose Tissue (MFat) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Injection of Microfragmented Adipose Tissue derived using Lipogems® Kit The cases assigned to this group will be injected intra-articularly with Lipogems®. The patients will undergo lipoaspiration of their own adipose tissue for MFat then this MFat will be injected intra-articularly in the knee. It will be administered once at the baseline visit of the study.

Group II: Saline Injection Active Control 1 Intervention

The cases assigned to this group will be injected intra-articularly in the knee with saline. It will be administered once at the baseline visit of the study.

Microfragmented Adipose Tissue is already approved in European Union, United States for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as MFAT for:

• Knee osteoarthritis

Approved in United States as MFAT for:

• Knee osteoarthritis

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Lipogems International spa

Lead Sponsor

Trials

4

Recruited

540+

Alira Health

Collaborator

Trials

6

Recruited

4,200+

Alira Health

Collaborator

Trials

6

Recruited

4,200+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 118 patients with knee osteoarthritis, both microfragmented adipose tissue (MF-AT) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections led to significant improvements in knee function and pain relief over 24 months, with no notable differences in outcomes between the two treatments.

While MF-AT and PRP showed similar efficacy, a higher percentage of patients with moderate to severe OA in the MF-AT group achieved clinically meaningful improvements in knee function at 6 months, suggesting a potential advantage for certain patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Microfragmented Adipose Tissue Versus Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial at 2-Year Follow-up. Zaffagnini, S., Andriolo, L., Boffa, A., et al.[2023]

In a study of 71 patients with early hip osteoarthritis, injections of autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) led to significant clinical improvements, with 28 patients not requiring further treatment after an average follow-up of 29 to 41 months.

The Oxford Hip Score improved by an average of 6.9 points post-treatment, indicating that MFAT injections can be an effective option for managing symptoms in early to moderate hip osteoarthritis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is intra-articular injection of autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue effective in hip osteoarthritis? A three year follow-up. Natali, S., Screpis, D., Romeo, M., et al.[2023]

In a study of 110 knees, a single ultrasound-guided injection of microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) significantly reduced pain (VAS score improved from 70 to 30) and enhanced functionality (OKS score improved from 25 to 33.5) in patients with knee osteoarthritis over a 12-month period.

No adverse events were reported during or after the procedure, indicating that MFAT injections are a safe treatment option for knee osteoarthritis, with promising improvements in patient quality of life (EQ-5D score improved from 0.62 to 0.69).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient-Centered Outcomes of Microfragmented Adipose Tissue Treatments of Knee Osteoarthritis: An Observational, Intention-to-Treat Study at Twelve Months. Heidari, N., Noorani, A., Slevin, M., et al.[2022]

A single injection of autologous microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) significantly improved clinical outcomes, including pain and quality of life, in 75 elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis over a two-year follow-up period.

The best results were observed in patients with early-stage osteoarthritis (KL grade 2), but overall, 88.3% of treatments showed significant functional improvement across all grades of knee OA, suggesting MFAT is a safe and effective alternative treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Two-year clinical outcomes of autologous microfragmented adipose tissue in elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis: a multi-centric, international study. Gobbi, A., Dallo, I., Rogers, C., et al.[2021]

In a randomized controlled trial involving 78 patients with knee osteoarthritis, the combination of microfragmented adipose tissue (mFAT) and arthroscopic debridement (AD) significantly improved functional scores compared to AD alone at both 6 months and 24 months follow-up.

The mFAT treatment also resulted in better MRI outcomes, indicating enhanced tissue healing, and was associated with lower T2-mapping scores in knee compartments, suggesting improved cartilage health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Micro-fragmented adipose tissue (mFAT) associated with arthroscopic debridement provides functional improvement in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial. Ulivi, M., Meroni, V., Viganò, M., et al.[2023]

A single intra-articular injection of autologous microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) showed a short-term therapeutic response rate of 64% at 3 months and 45% at 12 months in 64 patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, indicating early clinical improvement but a decline in effectiveness over time.

The study found that the presence of bone marrow lesions negatively impacted the therapeutic response rate, suggesting that assessing these lesions could help identify patients who may benefit more from MFAT treatment, potentially increasing the response rate to 70% at 12 months.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Autologous Micro-Fragmented Adipose Tissue (MFAT) to Treat Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: Early Outcomes of a Consecutive Case Series. Van Genechten, W., Vuylsteke, K., Martinez, PR., et al.[2021]

In a study of 110 patients with knee osteoarthritis, both microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) injections led to significant improvements in pain and function, as measured by various questionnaires over a follow-up period averaging 1.8 years for BMAC and 1.1 years for MFAT.

There was no significant difference in the effectiveness of pain relief and functional improvement between the two treatment groups, indicating that both MFAT and BMAC are viable options for treating symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Functional Outcomes Following Microfragmented Adipose Tissue Versus Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate Injections for Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis. Mautner, K., Bowers, R., Easley, K., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38212589/

Autologous microfragmented adipose tissue treatment of ... Autologous microfragmented adipose tissue treatment of knee osteoarthritis demonstrates effectiveness in 68% of patients at 4-year follow-up.

2. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00402-023-05143-y

Autologous microfragmented adipose tissue treatment of ... Autologous microfragmented adipose tissue treatment of knee osteoarthritis demonstrates effectiveness in 68% of patients at 4-year follow-up.

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07121556

Treatment of Symptomatic Bilateral Knee Osteoarthritis ... One knee will be treated with an injection of high-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid (4 cc) and microfragmented autologous adipose tissue (6 cc), harvested from ...

4. josr-online.biomedcentral.com josr-online.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13018-025-06006-5

Efficacy and safety of micro-fragmented adipose tissue ... The autologous nature of MFAT not only avoids immune rejection and ethical concerns but also highlights its unique potential in KOA treatment, ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352320425000495

Comparison of short-term clinical outcomes of intra- ... This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of SVF and MFAT for knee OA, focusing on their therapeutic effects over time.

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0976566224004739

Safety and efficacy of autologous adipose-derived stem ... The current systematic review demonstrated that using autologous adipose-derived stem cells improved clinical outcomes and is effective and safe in elderly ...

7. journals.plos.org journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0289610

Autologous micro-fragmented adipose tissue in the treatment ... To date, several studies have shown promising results when using autologous MFAT injection to treat knee OA [27, 28]. In animal experiments, it ...