Genetics Institute (Wyeth) is collaborating with Medtronic-Sofamor Danek (which specialises in spinal reconstruction) and Integra Life Sciences to develop a BMP 2 product [INFUSE Bone Graft] for use in spinal reconstruction in North America.1The INFUSE Bone Graft product has been approved for use in lumbar interbody spinal fusion procedures in the USA and is in phase III trials for use in lumbar posterolateral spinal fusion procedures.During the procedure, damaged disc is replaced with a collagen sponge (Integra's Absorbable Collagen Sponge) soaked with BMP 2, which is held in place within an implanted cage device (LT-CAGE™ Lumbar Tapered Fusion Devise); the fusion process subsequently requires several months to complete. However, the patient is able to leave hospital the day after the operation, whereas in conventional spinal surgery a longer recovery time is required. The procedure supersedes the use of autograft bone as it uses a recombinant human bone morphogenic protein, rhBMP-2, which induces the body to grow its own bone where required.Genetics Institute has cloned and expressed bone morphogenic proteins 1-7 and established manufacturing processes by recombinant DNA technology. Bone morphogenic proteins may be useful in the treatment of osteoporosis and orthopaedic trauma.BMP 2 is also being developed for bone regeneration as an implanted device and as an injectable formulation. Genetics Institute is also collaborating with Integra LifeSciences to develop a formulation of BMP 2 with Integra's absorbable collagen-based structures for fracture treatment, which is awaiting approval in the USA.