Growth Factors and Biologics

Growth factors are signalling proteins that drive tissue repair, and they are both the rationale behind most orthobiologics and the point where orthobiologics meet anti-doping rules.

The distinction that matters is between an autologous preparation that happens to contain growth factors, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and a purified or recombinant growth factor given as a drug. Clinically, legally and for anti-doping these are different propositions.

This page also covers autologous conditioned serum (ACS), the blood-derived product beyond PRP that a sport and exercise medicine (SEM) clinician is most often asked about. The general orthobiologics regulatory framework is covered on its own page.