A Multicenter Trial of Sprifermin (AS902330 [Recombinant Human Fibroblast Growth Factor-18]) or Placebo After Microfracture Surgery for Cartilage Injury of the Knee

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel Group, Phase II Trial to Investigate the Efficacy and Safety of 30 mcg and 100 mcg AS902330 Given as One Cycle of Three Intra-articular Knee Injections Once a Week for Three Weeks as an Adjunct Treatment to Patients Following Microfracture Surgery for Cartilage Injury of the Knee.

This is a Phase 2, double-blind, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Sprifermin (AS902330) (recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-18 [rhFGF-18]) as an adjunct treatment to subjects following microfracture (MFx) surgery for cartilage injury of the knee.

Primary Objectives

• To evaluate the effect of Sprifermin (AS902330) intra-articular knee injections as adjunct to microfracture (MFx) surgery on the composition of the refilled cartilage in the target knee, as measured by gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cartilage (dGEMRIC) time constant 1 (T1) relaxation time at 6 months after MFx surgery
• To evaluate the safety profile of Sprifermin (AS902330) when administered intra-articular into the knee as adjunct to MFx surgery in subjects with cartilage injury of the knee

Secondary Objectives

• To further support the efficacy and safety of Sprifermin (AS902330) as an adjunct to MFx for cartilage injury repair through symptomatic outcomes and quantitative MRI measurement

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with candidature for MFx surgery on the femoral articular surfaces (medial or lateral condyles or trochlear groove), with intact subchondral bone

• Subjects with moderate to severe pain in the target knee prior to surgery; average score greater than equal to (>=) 4.0 over 7 consecutive days on numeric rating scale of pain intensity (completed within 30 [+15] days before surgery)

• Intraoperative inclusion criteria: Subjects with 1 or 2 focal chondral lesions per target knee, where peripheral debridement to healthy cartilage results in all of the following:

  • Each lesion has an area of >= 1 square centimeter (cm^2) and less than equal to (<=) 4 cm^2
  • Each lesion is <= 6 millimeter (mm) in depth, as measured from the surrounding subchondral plate
  • Arthroscopic confirmation that each non-osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion is between International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) Grades I and III (D); a Grade III non-OCD lesion is equivalent to an Outerbridge Grade IV lesion with minimal subchondral bone loss

• Other protocol-defined inclusion criteria could apply

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects with prior marrow stimulation treatment of the target knee, that is, MFx, micro-drilling, abrasion chondroplasty or cartilage repair including, but not limited to, autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), matrix/membrane autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI), or osteochondral transplantation (autologous or allogeneic)
• Subjects with body mass index (BMI) of greater than 35 kilogram per square meter (kg/m^2) at screening
• Malalignment of the target knee greater than 5 degrees as measured from the mechanical axis, as confirmed by alignment (long bone) X-ray images
• Subjects with clinical and/or radiographic disease diagnosis of the target knee joint including, but not limited to the following: generalized osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis, or avascular necrosis
• Subjects who have any contraindication to MRI or gadolinium-based or iodinated contrast agents according to the site's standard practice guidelines
• Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria could apply