[Edaily Reporter YU JIN-HEE ] Medical device specialist #NEXTBIOMEDICAL CO., LTD. announced on the 24th that it has applied to the National Evidence-based Healthcare Research Institute (NECA) for an evaluation of its new medical technology, Arthritis Embolization (GAE), for patients with knee osteoarthritis.

The evaluation of new medical technologies is a system designed to verify the safety and clinical efficacy of new medical technologies. As the evaluation results lay the institutional foundation for the technology’s use in clinical practice, this application is expected to serve as a major milestone toward expanding the clinical application of Arthritis Embolization (GAE) in Korea.

Knee osteoarthritis, a representative degenerative disease, is seeing a steady increase in the number of patients due to an aging population. While medication, physical therapy, and injections are typically administered in the early stages, surgical treatment must eventually be considered as symptoms worsen. Recently, there has been a significant increase in demand for non-surgical treatment options in clinical settings, particularly among elderly patients and those with underlying medical conditions for whom surgery poses a high burden.

The arthritis embolization procedure for which the company has applied is an interventional procedure that selectively blocks (embolizes) abnormal new blood vessels causing pain within the joint. Recently, academic circles both domestically and internationally have reported a series of studies demonstrating the minimally invasive nature and excellent pain-relieving effects of arthritis embolization in patients who do not respond to conventional conservative treatments, and it is rapidly emerging as a new alternative in the field of musculoskeletal pain treatment.

NEXTBIOMEDICAL CO., LTD. plans to use this evaluation of new medical technologies to objectively validate the clinical value of knee arthritis embolization and its potential for market entry in Korea. Furthermore, the company expects to use this evaluation as a stepping stone to expand the scope of clinical application beyond the knee to encompass musculoskeletal embolization procedures in general.

In fact, in overseas healthcare markets, clinical research on embolization is actively underway not only for knee conditions but also for various joint disorders—including those affecting the shoulder, elbow, and hip—as well as for musculoskeletal conditions such as tendinopathy and sports injuries.

Going forward, as clinical evidence accumulates and data on efficacy and cost-effectiveness in clinical practice are secured, the scope of market application is expected to gradually expand alongside relevant regulatory reviews. In particular, as a minimally invasive treatment capable of significantly reducing the burden of hospitalization and surgery, it is drawing attention as a potential solution to alleviate the burden of healthcare costs in an aging society.

A representative from NEXTBIOMEDICAL CO., LTD. stated, “This application for new medical technology is an important first step toward evaluating the potential for the clinical application of arthritis embolization in Korea for patients with knee osteoarthritis,” adding, “Starting with arthritis embolization, we plan to expand the indications to various joint and musculoskeletal disorders and continue to secure relevant clinical evidence.”