By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : August 13, 2026 8:38 am
USPTO patent covers ultrasound-guided administration of Stempeucel-OA for Grade II and III knee osteoarthritis
Stempeutics Research, a group company of Manipal Education and Medical Group, has received a U.S. patent for its stem cell-based treatment approach using Stempeucel-OA for osteoarthritis.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted U.S. Patent No. 12,661,377 on June 23, 2026.
The patent covers an ultrasound-guided, intra-articular treatment involving a single dose of 25 million ex vivo expanded, pooled and cultured adult bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), followed by a single injection of mid-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid.
The treatment is being developed for patients with Grade II and III knee osteoarthritis and is designed to act at the cellular level to reduce inflammation and pain, improve joint function and support cartilage preservation.
The patented invention also covers methods associated with increasing anti-inflammatory markers and reducing disease-progression markers in individuals with osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis represents a significant and growing healthcare challenge in India. An estimated 48.4 million people in the country were living with knee osteoarthritis in 2021.
The progressive condition can impair mobility and physical function and significantly affect quality of life, creating a need for therapeutic approaches that may address the underlying disease process.
Dr. Sudarshan Ballal, Chairman, Stempeutics, said the grant recognises the company's continued work in scientific and clinical research and its focus on allogeneic, pooled MSC technology.
He described Stempeucel-OA as a potential advanced therapeutic approach for patients with osteoarthritis and said the patent reinforces Stempeutics' global position in regenerative medicine.
Manohar BN, MD & CEO, Stempeutics, said the company's innovation efforts are focused on addressing unmet patient needs and developing therapies aimed at treating disease at its underlying level.
He described the U.S. patent as an important milestone for Stempeutics and highlighted the company's research programme and Phase 3 evidence supporting Stempeucel-OA. He added that the therapy is being used across hospitals in India, reflecting the company's focus on translating regenerative medicine research into clinical applications.
The patent adds to Stempeutics' intellectual property portfolio and strengthens the company's efforts to advance stem cell-based regenerative therapies for musculoskeletal disorders.