ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03291470Updated Aug 20, 2026

Study to Determine the Efficacy and Safety of TG-C in Subjects With Kellgren/Lawrence Grade 2 or 3 OA of the Knee

A Phase 3 interventional study of TG-C and Placebo Control in Degenerative Osteoarthritis, sponsored by Kolon TissueGene, Inc.. Completed at 27 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 40 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-20.

Sponsored by Kolon TissueGene, Inc. · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was Mar 2024, 2 years 8 months ago, and no results have been posted to the registry.
Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
531
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
40 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center, phase 3 study to determine the efficacy and safety of TG-C in subjects with Kellgren and Lawrence Grade 2 or 3 Osteoarthritis of the Knee, Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) medial joint space narrowing (JSN) Grade 1 or 2 of the knee joint. TG-C is to be administered by a single intra-articular injection to the damaged joint area via ultrasound guidance. Patients will be followed for 24 months for safety and efficacy.

Read the detailed description

This protocol is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of TG-C in treating symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee and determining disease modifying effects of TG-C. This study is intended for the treatment of patients with K\&L Grade 2 and 3 osteoarthritis and OARSI JSN Grade 1 and 2. Assessments will be made on both the symptomatic effects of pain (VAS), function (WOMAC), and Quality of Life (SF-12) as well as the physical effects (JSW, MRI evaluations of whole knee joint organ tissues and structure) and biochemical biomarkers. This is a placebo-controlled study, TG-C will be compared to normal saline as a control. Additionally, this protocol is designed to evaluate the safety of TG-C. Safety will be evaluated by observation of the injection site for irritation or other effects, the incidence and severity of adverse events, and changes in physical examination findings, radiographic criteria, and laboratory tests. Patients will be followed for 24 months for both safety and efficacy with annual cancer surveillance questionnaires through 15 years post dose for subjects who do not enroll in the Long Term Safety study.

02

Conditions studied

  • Degenerative Osteoarthritis

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Keywords

  • knee
03

In context

Joint Diseases

386 studies on the registry are indexed under Joint Diseases; 64 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 531 is above the median of 102 across 251 interventional studies indexed under Joint Diseases.

Browse Joint Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

Kolon TissueGene, Inc. is the lead sponsor of 6 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
40 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 40 or older
  • between 18.5 and 40
  • KL Grade 2 or 3 knee OA
  • OARSI Grade 1 or 2 medial JSN
  • Pain >= 40 on VAS scale
  • Written
  • Using

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Knee symptoms that result in difficulty or inability to walk
  • Knee effusion >2+
  • Has Grade 3 OARSI JSN
  • Has a score of 0 or >=5 on the cartilage feature of the WORMS at Screening
  • MRI exam indicates fracture or tumor
  • Has a positive result on RCR testing at screening
  • Has taken NSAIDS with 14 days of baseline
  • Has taken steroidal anti-inflammatory or biologic therapy medication within 2 months of baseline
  • Chronic (>21 days) narcotic use
  • Recent history (within 1 year) of drug or alcohol abuse
  • Pregnant or lactating
  • Has received injection to target knee within 2 months prior to study entry
  • History of various disorders of the knee including but not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, disorder, chondrocalcinosis, gout, hemochromatosis, villonodular synovitis, or synovial chondromatosis
  • Severe hip osteoarthritis ipsilateral to the target knee
  • Ongoing infectious disease including but not limited to , HTLV-1, VSV-G, , or .
  • congestive heart failure, hepatic disease, kidney disease, adrenal insufficiency, acromegaly, uncontrolled hyper- or hypothyroidism, or non-specified uncontrolled endocrine disorder.
  • Uncontrolled diabetes based on a > 8% at screening.
  • Documented active within the last 5 years except for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and benign pigmented nevi.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(10)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

BMI (body mass index)

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.

What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Hepatitis C tests

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.

After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

HbA1c

A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Quadruple (Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
531 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Active Treatment (TG-C)

    TG-C at 3 x 10e7 cells per single 2 mL intraarticular injection

    Biological: TG-C

  • Placebo comparator
    Placebo Control (Normal Saline)

    Normal saline, single 2 mL intraarticular injection

    Biological: Placebo Control

Interventions

  • BiologicalTG-C

    2 mL injection of non-transduced human chondrocytes and irradiated transduced human GP2-293 cells expressing TGF-B1

    Also known as: TissueGene-C

  • BiologicalPlacebo Control

    2 mL normal saline intraarticular injection

    Also known as: Normal Saline

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Knee Function as Assessed by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Index (WOMAC)

    Assessment of change from baseline in target knee function using the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index. The WOMAC is a proprietary set of standardized questionnaires used by health professionals to evaluate the condition of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee including pain, stiffness, and physical functioning of the joints. The response to the questions is in the form of a checked box associated with the response; None, Mild, Moderate, Severe and Extreme.

    Time frame: 12 months

  2. Change in Knee Pain as Assessed by VAS

    Assessment of change from baseline in target knee pain using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS is a method for the assessment of the intensity of pain. The VAS is a horizontal line, 100 mm in length and anchored by word descriptors at each end (no pain, very severe pain). The patient marks on the line at the point that represents their current state. The VAS score is determined by measuring in millimeters from the left hand end to the point of the mark. The score ranges from "0" or no pain to "100" very severe pain.

    Time frame: 12 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. MRI Assessment of Target Knee

    Assessment of knee organ tissues and structure by comparing change in MRI scoring using WORMS

    Time frame: 12 months

  2. PCS of the SF-12 Questionnaire

    Evaluation of the change from baseline in physical component score (PCS) of the SF-12v2 questionnaire.

    Time frame: 12 months

  3. WOMAC Total Score

    Evaluation of the efficacy of TG-C with regard to knee function via WOMAC total score

    Time frame: 24 Months

  4. Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index

    Evaluation of the change from baseline in the disability index of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-DI)

    Time frame: 12 months

Other outcomes

  1. Radiography for Structural Change in Knee Joint

    Evaluate structural changes of the knee joint as determined by radiography (X-ray)

    Time frame: 24 months

  2. Efficacy of TG-C with Regard to Knee Function via WOMAC Total Score

    Evaluation of the efficacy of TG-C with regard to knee function via WOMAC total score

    Time frame: Week 1, Months 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24

  3. Efficacy of TG-C with Regard to Knee Function via WOMAC Pain, Function, and Stiffness Scores

    Evaluate the efficacy of TG-C with regard to knee function via WOMAC® pain, function, and stiffness scores

    Time frame: 24 months

  4. Efficacy of TG-C with Regard to Knee Function via VAS Pain Score

    Evaluation of the efficacy of TG-C with regard to knee function via VAS pain score at time points other than Month 12

    Time frame: Day 1, Week 1, and Months 1, 3, 6, 9, 18 and 24

  5. OMERACT-OARSI Responder Analysis

    Analysis of response using the Outcomes Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials (OMERACT)-OARSI responder criteria

    Time frame: 12 and 24 months

  6. European Quality of Life-Five Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L)

    Evaluate health outcomes using the European Quality of Life-Five Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L)

    Time frame: Baseline and Months 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24

07

Study locations

27 sites
  • Nebojsa Skrepnik
    Tucson, Arizona 85712, United States
  • Steve Sitar
    Anaheim, California 92801, United States
  • Stuart Silverman
    Beverly Hills, California 90211, United States
  • Samy Metyas
    Covina, California 91722, United States
  • Bassil Aish
    Huntington Beach, California 92647, United States
  • Peter Hanson
    La Mesa, California 91942, United States
  • Duane Anderson
    San Diego, California 92120, United States
  • Miguel Trevino
    Clearwater, Florida 33756, United States
  • Jan Hommen
    Doral, Florida 33126, United States
  • Mira Baron
    West Palm Beach, Florida 33409, United States
  • Richard Radnovich
    Boise, Idaho 83713, United States
  • Thomas Schnitzer
    Chicago, Illinois 60611, United States
  • Nathan Rimmke
    Rochester Hills, Michigan 48307, United States
  • Larkin Wadsworth
    St Louis, Missouri 63141, United States
  • Robby Ann Quintos
    Las Vegas, Nevada 89109, United States
  • Igor Grosman
    Brooklyn, New York 11235, United States
  • Jonathan Samuels
    New York, New York 10016, United States
  • Minal Desai
    Durham, North Carolina 27704, United States
  • Jeremy Hoff
    Wilmington, North Carolina 28412, United States
  • Priyesh Mehta
    Dayton, Ohio 45432, United States
  • Edward Tavel
    Charleston, South Carolina 29406, United States
  • Durga Tanneru
    Dallas, Texas 75230, United States
  • Manjoo Sharma
    Lewisville, Texas 75057, United States
  • Haresh Boghara
    Red Oak, Texas 75154, United States
  • Leonel Reyes
    San Antonio, Texas 78215, United States
  • Lisa Blair
    San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
  • David Scott
    Spokane, Washington 99218, United States
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Dec 2021 to primary completion in Mar 2024, 26 months.

Of 19 phase 3 interventional studies under Joint Diseases, half reached primary completion within 28 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 23 and three quarters within 38. This study's 26 months is close to that.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Sep 19, 2017
First posted
Sep 25, 2017
StartActual
Dec 9, 2021
Primary completionActual
Mar 6, 2024
CompletionActual
May 1, 2026
Last update
Aug 20, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 20, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03291470
Lead sponsor
Kolon TissueGene, Inc.
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 25, 2017
Start date
Dec 9, 2021
Primary completion
Mar 6, 2024
Completion
May 1, 2026
Last update
Aug 20, 2026

Study contacts

Moon Jong Noh, PhD
study chair · Kolon TissueGene

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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