Bone morphogenetic protein 7 ex vivo gene therapy

Acquired and congenital skeletal defects arise from trauma and developmental abnormalities as well as ablative cancer surgery. Reconstructive surgery to repair the functional limitations and aesthetic concerns caused by these defects can be complex and extensive, and therapeutic restoration of structure and function is often difficult. Currently, autologous bone grafts are the "gold standard" method for surgical repair. Protein therapy, whereby recombinant or naturally sourced bone morphogenetic proteins are surgically implanted in a defect, has recently been approved for limited clinical use. Yet protein therapy and other methods including allografting, alloplastic implants and cell therapy have significant limitations. Recent advances in bone morphogenetic protein 7 ex vivo gene therapy for localized skeletal regeneration address these limitations.