Aperion Biologics, Inc. was granted the CE Mark approval for its lead product, the Z-Lig ACLR device, to be used by surgeons in the European Union and other territories that accept the CE Mark.

The Z-Lig is the first engineered biologic device for treatment of revision and multiligament anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee reconstruction to be granted a CE Mark or to be approved anywhere worldwide.

Aperion conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial in Europe and South Africa that demonstrated biological acceptance of its bioengineered porcine tendons, re-establishment of knee stability, and remodeling over time into the patient’s own human ligament. U.S. clinical evaluation is pending final discussions with the FDA on its approved pivotal clinical study of the Z-Lig.

Over 600,000 ACL reconstruction surgeries are performed around the globe annually, using either a patient’s own tissue (autografts) or cadaver tissue (allografts). Prior attempts at use of animal tissue or synthetic grafts to meet the high demands of the knee have proven unsuccessful. The Z-Lig provides a revolutionary new option for patients around the world. Aperion’s device is designed to provide immediate stability and function to the knee while promoting gradual remodeling into human tissue over time.

“The international trial and CE Mark approval independently confirm the successful results we saw in our US pilot study which now has patients with Z-Lig™ devices 10 years after implantation,” says Kevin R. Stone, M.D., the founder of Aperion Biologics. “The advantage of an off-the-shelf, biologic device is it avoids the weakening of the patient by taking their own tissue.” (Dr. Stone was not a participant in the CE Mark trial).