ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT03588975PEAKUpdated Nov 3, 2026

A Study of MACI in Patients Aged 10 to 17 Years With Symptomatic Chondral or Osteochondral Defects of the Knee

A Phase 3 interventional study of MACI and microfracture in Chondral Defect, Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD) and Articular Cartilage Defect, sponsored by Vericel Corporation. Recruiting at 15 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 10 Years to 17 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-03.

Sponsored by Vericel Corporation · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Oct 2018; still recruiting 8 years later.
Updated Nov 3, 20264 sites added3 sites removedGo to Updates ↓
Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
45
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
10 Years to 17 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of MACI® vs arthroscopic microfracture in the treatment of participants aged 10 to 17 years with symptomatic articular chondral or osteochondral defects of the knee.

Read the detailed description

This is a 2-year prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel group clinical trial; a total of 45 participants, ages 10 to 17 years, will be randomized to receive a 1-time treatment with MACI or microfracture (2:1, 30 MACI:15 microfracture).

After meeting screening criteria at the initial visit, all participants will have a screening arthroscopy to further assess study eligibility. During the screening arthroscopy, participants will be further evaluated against entry criteria. Cartilage lesion size will be measured prior to any cartilage repair procedure and randomization. All participants who meet the eligibility criteria and are considered suitable for treatment in the study will have a cartilage biopsy taken prior to randomization to study treatment. Eligible participants will be randomized during the screening arthroscopy procedure to receive either MACI or microfracture treatment. Participants randomized to microfracture will undergo the procedure during the screening arthroscopy.

All biopsied tissue will be sent to the Vericel manufacturing facility in Massachusetts, where the sample will be processed to isolate the autologous chondrocytes. Cells from participants randomized to the MACI group will be used in the preparation of the MACI implant; cells from participants randomized to the microfracture group will be cryopreserved.

Participants randomized to treatment with MACI will return within 12 weeks of the screening arthroscopy to undergo the chondrocyte implantation procedure via arthrotomy. Participants are to follow a recommended postoperative rehabilitation program and compliance with the rehabilitation schedule will be monitored.

Participants will be followed post-study treatment for 2 years (104 Weeks).

02

Conditions studied

  • Chondral Defect
  • Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD)
  • Articular Cartilage Defect
  • Articular Cartilage Disorder of Knee

Keywords

  • OCD
  • cartilage
  • cartilage defect
03

In context

Osteochondritis Dissecans

30 studies on the registry are indexed under Osteochondritis Dissecans; 7 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 45 is close to the median of 45 across 17 interventional studies indexed under Osteochondritis Dissecans.

Browse Osteochondritis Dissecans studies →

Lead sponsor

Vericel Corporation is the lead sponsor of 14 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
10 Years to 17 Years
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

  • Age 10 to 17 years at the time of planned randomization
  • Symptomatic cartilage or osteochondral defects
  • One or more International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) Grade III or IV chondral or unsalvageable osteochondral defects located on the femoral condyles and/or trochlea amenable to treatment with the surgical procedure determined at randomization (MACI or microfracture).

    1. Concurrent ICRS Grade I and II defects are acceptable on the tibia if they remain untreated (or are treated with debridement only) at the time of study treatment.
    2. Participants with a potentially re-attachable osteochondral fragment, identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and that has not previously been repaired, may be consented to the study and undergo baseline assessments per protocol and prior to confirmatory arthroscopy (Visit 2). At arthroscopy, an attempt will be made to reattach the osteochondral fragment. If this is successful, the participant will be excluded from the study and deemed an intra-operative screen failure. If the attempted reattachment fails and no other exclusion criteria apply, the participant may continue in the PEAK study: a MACI will be taken, the participant will be randomized and treated per protocol.
  • At least 1 defect size ≥1.5 cm2 on the patella, femoral condyles and/or the trochlea; defects include OCD lesions with a bone lesion depth of ≤6 mm and does not require a bone graft.
  • Salvageable OCD lesions must have failed prior conservative and a reparative treatment, and the participant still experiences pain associated with the osteochondral lesion. Participants with defects as a result of trauma or unknown etiology are eligible regardless of prior treatments.
  • Stable target knee (i.e., anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments should be free of laxity as well as stable and intact). Ligament repair or reconstruction procedures are allowed prior to screening arthroscopy.
  • Intact meniscus or partial meniscus (at least 50% of functional meniscus remaining) in the target knee. Meniscal repair or resection might be performed either staged or concurrent with the cartilage repair procedure provided that the surgeon was able to confirm that at least 50% of functional meniscus would remain after the corrective meniscal treatment.
  • Written

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any surgery on the target knee joint within 6 months prior to Screening (not including diagnostic arthroscopy)
  • Previous drug or device use within 3 months prior to Screening
  • Avascular necrosis of the target knee (other than potential OCD lesion to be treated)
  • Participants with uninvolved open growth plates where the surgery necessitates crossing the growth plate, or where the depth of the lesion crosses the growth plate
  • ICRS Grade III or IV chondral or unsalvageable osteochondral defects located on the tibia or any lesion that is bipolar to the index lesion
  • Malalignment requiring concurrent osteotomy to correct tibial-femoral or patella-femoral alignment (prior guided growth treatment is not exclusionary)
  • Symptomatic musculoskeletal conditions in the lower limbs that could impede measurement of efficacy for the target knee joint
  • Concomitant inflammatory disease or other conditions that affects the joints (eg, rheumatoid arthritis, metabolic bone disease, psoriasis, symptomatic chondrocalcinosis)
  • Known history of septic arthritis in the index knee joint
  • Current or treatment for malignancy within the past 5 years
  • Known history of to gentamicin, other aminoglycosides, or products of porcine or bovine origin
  • Females who are pregnant or lactating
  • Participants who, in the opinion of the Investigator, have significant medical or psychosocial problems that warrant exclusion. Examples of significant problems included but are not limited to:

    • Any condition that has potential for negatively impacting intra or postoperative course
    • Conditions that limit compliance with rehabilitation program
    • Any condition that has potential for significantly limiting participant's ability to assess postoperative knee function
    • Any condition, psychiatric or otherwise, that would preclude /assent, consistent follow-up, or compliance with any aspect of the study
    • Participant is currently abusing drugs or alcohol or, in the opinion of the Investigator, at high risk for poor compliance
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(5)

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.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

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.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

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.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
45 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    MACI

    autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane

    Biological: MACI

  • Other
    microfracture

    surgical procedure

    Procedure: microfracture

Interventions

  • BiologicalMACI

    autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine collagen membrane

  • Proceduremicrofracture

    Arthroscopic microfracture treatment

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Proportion of Participants Who Achieve ≥ 10-point Improvement From Baseline in KOOS-Child Pain and Function (Sports and Recreational Activities) Subscale Scores

    A responder is defined as a participant with ≥ 10-point change (improvement) in both the KOOS-Child Pain and Function (Sports and Recreational activities) scores from Baseline scores. The Knee and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Children (KOOS-Child) is a validated knee-specific instrument developed to assess the participant's opinion of their knee and associated problems. KOOS consists of 5 subscales: Pain, Function in sports and recreational activities, other Symptoms, Function in activities of daily living (ADL), and knee related Quality of life (QOL).

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 104

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from Baseline in KOOS-Child subscores

    The Knee and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Children (KOOS-Child) is a validated knee-specific instrument developed to assess the participant's opinion of their knee and associated problems. KOOS consists of 5 subscales: Pain, Function in sports and recreational activities, other Symptoms, Function in activities of daily living (ADL), and knee related Quality of life (QOL).

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 104

  2. Change from Baseline in KOOS-Child subscores

    The Knee and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score for Children (KOOS-Child) is a validated knee-specific instrument developed to assess the participant's opinion of their knee and associated problems. KOOS consists of 5 subscales: Pain, Function in sports and recreational activities, other Symptoms, Function in activities of daily living (ADL), and knee related Quality of life (QOL).

    Time frame: Baseline and Week 52

Other outcomes

  1. Treatment Emergent Adverse Events

    A treatment emergent untoward medical occurrence associated with the use of a drug in humans, whether or not considered drug related.

    Time frame: Week 104

07

Study locations

12 of 15 sites recruiting
  • Stanford University School of Medicine
    Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
    Recruiting
    • Amishi Jobanputra · Contactamishij@stanford.edu · 650-498-4180
    • Kevin Shea · Principal investigator
  • Shriners Hospital for Children Northern California
    Sacramento, California 95817, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of California Davis Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center Orthopaedic Surgery
    Sacramento, California 95817, United States
    Recruiting
  • Ochsner Health System-Elmwood
    New Orleans, Louisiana 70121, United States
    Recruiting
  • Johns Hopkins Hospital
    Baltimore, Maryland 21224, United States
    Recruiting
    • Rushyuan Jay Lee, MD · Contactrlee74@jhmi.edu · 443-997-2663
    • Gabrielle Reichard · Contactgreicha1@jhmi.edu · 410-502-3626
    • Rushyuan Jay Lee · Principal investigator
  • University of Michigan Medsport Orthopaedic Surgery
    Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106, United States
    Recruiting
    • Christopher Ray · Contactraychri@med.umich.edu · 734-615-0934
    • Eileen Crawford · Principal investigator
  • Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine
    The Bronx, New York 10467, United States
    Completed

    Not enrolling at this site.

  • Akron Children's Hospital
    Akron, Ohio 44308, United States
    Recruiting
  • The Ohio State University Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute
    Columbus, Ohio 43202, United States
    Recruiting
  • Penn Medicine University City
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
    Recruiting
    • Dorothy Brill · Contactdcbrill@upenn.edu · 215-273-5062
    • James Carey · Principal investigator
  • The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - The Hub for Clinical Collaboration
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
    Recruiting
    • Divya Talwar · Contacttalward@chop.edu · 215-590-1527
    • Theodore Ganley · Principal investigator
  • University Orthopedics, Inc.
    East Providence, Rhode Island 02914, United States
    Recruiting
  • Texas' Children Hospital
    Houston, Texas 77094, United States
    Completed

    Not enrolling at this site.

  • Children's Medical Center Plano
    Plano, Texas 75024, United States
    Completed

    Not enrolling at this site.

  • Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, United States
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

2 registry updates since Sep 25, 2026
Sites
4 sites added, 3 sites removed
Show 4 added (4 United States)
  • University of California Davis Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center Orthopaedic Surgery · Sacramento, United States
  • Ochsner Health System-Elmwood · New Orleans, United States
  • Johns Hopkins Hospital · Baltimore, United States
  • University Orthopedics, Inc. · East Providence, United States
Show 3 removed
  • University of California Davis Health · Sacramento, United States
  • Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute · New Orleans, United States
  • Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center · Baltimore, United States
across 2 updates, Oct 13, 2026 – Nov 3, 2026
Show all 2 updates
  1. Nov 3, 2026
    1 site added
    Show site
    • University Orthopedics, Inc. · East Providence, United States
    + 1 other change: contact details
  2. Oct 13, 2026
    3 sites added, 3 sites removed
    Show 3 added (3 United States)
    • University of California Davis Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center Orthopaedic Surgery · Sacramento, United States
    • Ochsner Health System-Elmwood · New Orleans, United States
    • Johns Hopkins Hospital · Baltimore, United States
    Show 3 removed
    • University of California Davis Health · Sacramento, United States
    • Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute · New Orleans, United States
    • Johns Hopkins Outpatient Center · Baltimore, United States
    + 1 other change: verification date

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03588975
Lead sponsor
Vericel Corporation
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jul 17, 2018
Start date
Oct 24, 2018
Primary completion
Feb 2030 (estimated)
Completion
Feb 2030 (estimated)
Last update
Nov 3, 2026

Study contacts

Vericel Clinical Affairs
Contact
clinicalhotline@vcel.com
978-347-2876
Jonathan Hopper, BSc (Hons), MB ChB, FRCSEd
study director · Vericel Corporation

Oversight

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

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