MUSIC · Project

Cell Therapy Plus Muscle Stimulation System to Treat Urinary Incontinence

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Imagine over 200 million people worldwide deal with bladder leakage — an embarrassing problem with no lasting fix. Current treatments like surgery or mesh implants often cause complications and wear off. MUSIC took a patient's own muscle cells, grew them in a lab, injected them back into the weakened bladder muscle, and then used electromagnetic stimulation to help those cells rebuild strength — like physical therapy at the cellular level. They tested this combination approach in 40 women in a first-ever clinical study to see if you can actually repair the muscle instead of just patching it.

By the numbers

200 million

People affected by stress urinary incontinence worldwide

20-50%

Prevalence of SUI in women

Female patients in first-in-man clinical study

Consortium partners across 5 countries

SMEs in the consortium

57%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Stress urinary incontinence affects over 200 million people globally, with 20-50% of women experiencing it. Current treatments — surgery, mesh implants, and drugs — offer only short-term relief and carry significant complication risks. There is no widely available treatment that actually repairs the damaged muscle causing the problem.

The solution

What was built

The project built a combined treatment system: autologous muscle precursor cells with a xeno-free manufacturing process, a water jet needle-free injection technique for precise cell delivery into sphincter muscle, and neuromuscular electromagnetic stimulation to support cell integration. These were tested together in a first-in-man clinical study with 40 patients.

Audience

Who needs this

Medical device companies in urology and pelvic floor treatmentCell therapy contract manufacturers seeking xeno-free ATMP production protocolsPharmaceutical companies targeting women's health and incontinence marketsUrology clinic chains looking for regenerative treatment offeringsRegenerative medicine startups seeking clinically validated cell therapy platforms

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical devices and urology equipment

mid-size

Target: Companies manufacturing urological treatment devices or electromagnetic stimulation equipment

If you are a medical device company looking to expand into regenerative urology — this project developed a neuromuscular electromagnetic stimulation (NMES) device combined with cell therapy that was tested in 40 patients. The water jet injection technique they built allows precise, needle-free delivery of cells into sphincter muscle, opening a new product category beyond traditional surgical tools.

Cell therapy and regenerative medicine manufacturing

SME

Target: Contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) or biotech companies producing advanced therapy medicinal products

If you are a cell therapy manufacturer struggling with complex production protocols — this project developed a totally xeno-free, facilitated manufacturing process for autologous muscle precursor cells. Their optimized ATMP production pipeline removes animal-derived components, which simplifies regulatory approval and reduces contamination risk for commercial-scale manufacturing.

Pharmaceutical and clinical services

enterprise

Target: Pharma companies or clinical service providers targeting women's health and pelvic floor disorders

If you are a pharmaceutical company seeking alternatives to mesh implants and drug therapies for stress urinary incontinence — this project completed a first-in-man clinical study with 40 female patients using autologous cells combined with electromagnetic stimulation. With 20-50% of women affected by this condition, a regenerative approach that restores muscle function rather than masking symptoms addresses a massive unmet market.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this cell therapy approach?

The project developed an advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) with a xeno-free manufacturing process, which is a regulated product category in Europe. Licensing costs would depend on negotiation with the consortium, particularly the University of Zurich as coordinator. Based on available project data, costs for the manufacturing process optimization and clinical protocol are not disclosed.

Can this treatment scale to industrial production?

The project specifically worked on a 'facilitated manufacturing process' to make production more feasible for smaller regenerative medicine centers. The xeno-free protocol removes animal-derived components, which is a key barrier to scaling. Their stated goal was expanding the know-how to various smaller RM centers and companies within Europe.

What intellectual property exists and how can it be licensed?

Key IP likely covers the water jet cell injection technique, the xeno-free manufacturing protocol for muscle precursor cells, and the combined MPC plus NMES treatment protocol. The consortium includes 3 SMEs and 4 industry partners across 5 countries, so IP ownership may be distributed. Contact the University of Zurich coordinator for licensing discussions.

What regulatory approvals does this therapy need?

This is classified as an Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) under EU regulations, requiring EMA approval. The project completed a first-in-man clinical study with 40 patients to prove safety and efficacy. Further Phase II/III trials would be needed before commercial deployment.

How long before this could reach the market?

The project ran from 2017 to 2022 and completed a first-in-man study with 40 patients. ATMPs typically require additional clinical phases after initial safety and efficacy trials. Based on available project data, commercial availability would likely require further clinical validation beyond what was completed.

Can this integrate with existing urology clinic infrastructure?

The NMES component uses electromagnetic stimulation equipment that could integrate into existing clinical settings. The water jet injection technique was designed as an alternative to standard needle injection, potentially fitting into existing surgical workflows. The cell manufacturing component would require specialized GMP facilities or partnership with a cell therapy manufacturer.

Consortium

Who built it

The MUSIC consortium brings together 7 partners from 5 countries (Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, UK), with a notably high industry ratio of 57% — 4 industry partners including 3 SMEs alongside 3 universities. This industry-heavy composition signals strong commercial intent beyond pure research. The University of Zurich coordinates, bringing academic rigor to the clinical study, while the SME involvement suggests active interest in manufacturing scale-up and product development. The multi-country spread across major European medical device markets (Germany, Netherlands, UK) positions the results well for pan-European regulatory pathways and commercialization.

UNIVERSITAT ZURICHCoordinator · CH
KUROS BIOSCIENCES BVparticipant · NL
SCINUS HOLDING BVparticipant · NL
COLLAGEN SOLUTIONS (UK) LIMITEDparticipant · UK
EBERHARD KARLS UNIVERSITAET TUEBINGENparticipant · DE
PARACELSUS MEDIZINISCHE PRIVATUNIVERSITAT SALZBURG - PRIVATSTIFTUNGparticipant · AT

How to reach the team

University of Zurich (Switzerland) — use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup service to find the principal investigator's contact details

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITAT ZURICH profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the MUSIC team about licensing their cell therapy manufacturing process or water jet injection technology? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and provide a detailed technology brief.

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