Commentary: Gene therapy for spinal fusion

 FDA device/drug status: Not approved for this indication (gene therapy and delivery of growth factors).

 Author disclosures: JCW: Royalties: Medtronics (D), Stryker (C), Seaspine (E), Osprey (C), Aesculap (C), Biomet (F), Amedica (C), Zimmer (D), Alphatech (F); Stock Ownership: Fziomed (<1% of entity); Private Investments: Promethean Spine (B, <1% of entity), Paradigm Spine (B, <1% of entity), Benevenue (C, <1% of entity), NexGen (B, <1% of entity), K2 medical (B, <1% of entity), Pioneer (B, <1% of entity), Amedica (D, <1% of entity), Vertiflex (B, <1% of entity), Electrocore (C, <1% of entity), Surgitech (C, <1% of entity), Invuity (10,000 shares, <1% of entity), Axiomed (25,000 shares, <1% of entity); Board of Directors: North American Spine Society (nonfinancial), Cervical Spine Research Society (nonfinancial); Scientific Advisory Board: VG Innovations (5,000 options, <1% of entity), Corespine (2,000 options, <1% of entity), Expanding Orthopaedics (33,000 options, <1% of entity), Syndicom (66,125 shares, <1% of entity), Osprey (10 options, <1% of entity), Amedica (35,416 options, <1% of entity), Bone Biologics (51,255 shares, <1% of entity), Curative Biosciences (1,875 options, <1% of entity), Facet Solutions (35,000 options, <1% of entity), Pearldiver (25,000 options, <1% of entity), Pioneer (3,636 options, <1% of entity), Seaspine (11 options, <1% of entity), Axis (nonfinancial).

 The disclosure key can be found on the Table of Contents and at www.TheSpineJournalOnline.com.

PII: S1529-9430(11)00146-X

doi:10.1016/j.spinee.2011.02.015

© 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.