MIAMI, June 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vivex Biologics, a leader in developing and delivering innovative allografts, today announced the publication of a new real-world evidence study demonstrating that VIA Disc® NP significantly reduces opioid utilization, advanced imaging, physical therapy, and epidural steroid injections among Medicare beneficiaries with lumbar discogenic pain. The retrospective analysis of Medicare claims data comparing patients who received VIA Disc NP against those who received conservative care was published in the peer-reviewed, open-access Journal of Pain Research.
Vivex Biologics Publishes New Medicare Real-World Evidence Study Showing VIA Disc® NP Significantly Reduces Opioid Use, Imaging, and Conservative Care Utilization in Patients with Lumbar Discogenic Pain
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The study, titled, “Comparing Medicare Claims in Patients with Lumbar Discogenic Pain Managed Conservatively or with Intradiscal Nucleus Pulposus Allograft,” assessed Medicare claims between 2021 and 2024 and compared 1,804 patients with symptomatic degenerative disc disease (DDD) who received VIA Disc NP with 1,804 patients who received conservative care, including prescription opioids, epidural steroid injection, platelet rich plasma injection, and/or physical therapy. Data processing and analysis were performed independently by Inovalon (Bowie, MD), and patients were matched one-to-one on eight potential confounding variables, including age, gender, baseline comorbidity burden, and baseline chronic opioid therapy.
Based on this assessment, the study concluded that patients receiving VIA Disc NP demonstrated statistically significant reductions across multiple current standards of care. These included statistically significant reductions in opioid prescriptions (~20%; P=0.001) and total days’ supply of opioids (~30%; P=0.001) in the 12 months following the NP allograft procedure, along with reduced imaging utilization (~40%; P=0.0001), driven largely by decreased use of magnetic resonance imaging (60%). Reductions were also seen in physical therapy (47%) and epidural steroid injections (44%).
Because degenerative disc disease typically progresses toward more invasive interventions, such as opioids, repeat imaging, injections, and surgery, this shift may help interrupt disease escalation, reduce unnecessary procedures, and delay or avoid surgery. Additionally, the need for surgical fusion remained low, with only approximately 6% of VIA Disc NP treated patients requiring this level of intervention.
“These data are highly encouraging as they represent a shift in how patients with lumbar discogenic pain receive care,” said George Girardi, MD (UCHealth, Fort Collins, CO). “Today, lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease is not just a clinical challenge but is a leading driver of disability that places a significant burden on patients and communities alike, contributing to billions in healthcare costs and lost productivity. VIA Disc NP offers patients a minimally invasive option that may provide long-lasting reductions in pain and overall improvements in the quality of their lives.”
John A. McCallum, Vivex’s Executive Chairman, added, “Medicare spending exceeded $1.1 trillion in 2024 alone, accounting for roughly 21% of total U.S. healthcare expenditures, with lower back pain continuing to drive tens of billions of dollars in healthcare spending. These data further reinforce that VIA Disc NP may provide physicians a drug free, first-line option that improves quality of life for their patients and decreases the financial burden on the U.S. healthcare system.”
VIA Disc NP is a sterilized nucleus pulposus allograft collected from human donor intervertebral disc tissue and involves minimally invasive delivery in an outpatient procedure requiring only light sedation.
For more information on Vivex and its innovative solutions, visit www.vivex.com. For more information on VIA Disc NP, visit www.viadiscnp.com.
About Vivex Biologics, Inc.
Vivex is a leading medical technology company focused on the science, development and commercialization of advanced therapies for the regeneration, restoration and repair of the body. Its current therapies help patients suffering from chronic lower back pain, musculoskeletal injuries, wounds and burns. By leveraging its robust and proven R&D capabilities and corporate infrastructure, Vivex seeks to continue to channel the body’s inherent healing qualities to provide patients optimal care and medical professionals with innovative treatment options for a broad range of indications.
Author
TH
TJ Halvorson
The De Angelis Group | Orthopedics This Week | MSK Innovations
Why This Matters
Two Perspectives
MBA Lens: Economic and industry impact
Vivex Biologics' VIA Disc NP demonstrates significant reductions in healthcare resource utilization for lumbar discogenic pain patients, as shown in a new Medicare real-world evidence study. This positions VIA Disc NP as a cost-effective, minimally invasive, drug-free first-line option. The data supports reducing the substantial financial burden of lower back pain on Medicare, potentially shifting the continuum of care and improving market adoption.
- The study highlights VIA Disc NP's potential to decrease Medicare spending by reducing opioid use, advanced imaging, and other conservative care interventions.
- This evidence strengthens Vivex's market position by offering a value-based solution that may delay or avoid more invasive and costly surgical procedures.
PhD Lens: Clinical and outcomes impact
A new real-world evidence study on Vivex Biologics' VIA Disc NP, a sterilized nucleus pulposus allograft, shows statistically significant reductions in opioid use, imaging, and conservative care for lumbar discogenic pain. This retrospective Medicare claims analysis compared 1,804 treated patients to 1,804 conservatively managed patients, matched on key variables, indicating a positive clinical shift in patient management.
- VIA Disc NP treatment led to ~20% reduction in opioid prescriptions, ~40% in imaging (60% MRI), 47% in physical therapy, and 44% in epidural steroid injections.
- The study, while a retrospective claims analysis, suggests the allograft may interrupt disease escalation and reduce the need for more invasive interventions like surgical fusion.
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Discussion
This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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