Osteoarthritis, a chronic condition characterized by the gradual deterioration of joint cartilage, inflicts daily pain and bone decay on hundreds of millions worldwide. However, a promising new treatment in the form of a single injection could offer relief.
Ongoing animal research suggests that a meticulously designed, slow-release drug delivery system injected into the affected joint can stimulate the body’s cartilage and bone cells to initiate effective repairs within weeks.
“In two years, we were able to go from a moonshot idea to developing these therapies to demonstrating that they reverse osteoarthritis in animals,” says Stephanie Bryant, a chemical and biological engineer at the University of Colorado (UC) Boulder.
With the initial phase of animal experiments completed, the team is preparing to enter phase two, which will focus on gathering more data on safety and toxicology to pave the way for human clinical trials.
“Our goal,” says Bryant, “is not just to treat pain and halt progression, but to end this disease.”
Currently, there is no cure for osteoarthritis. Patients must manage the pain or undergo joint replacement with metal or plastic substitutes.
This ongoing research, though not yet peer-reviewed, points to a potential solution that encourages the body’s own cells to repair joint damage.
In addition to their drug delivery system, the team is developing an injectable implant that stabilizes within the joint, recruiting the body’s cells to fill cartilage gaps. Ultimately, they aim to offer tailored options for various stages of the condition.
Osteoarthritis progresses through four stages, from mild cartilage loss to severe cases where bone meets bone, causing intense pain, stiffness, swelling, and inflammation.
“At the moment, the options for many patients are either a massive, expensive surgery or nothing,” says Evalina Burger, a professor and chair of the Department of Orthopedics at UC Anschutz.
“There’s not a lot in between.”
frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen>Given the prevalence and debilitating nature of osteoarthritis, numerous research efforts are exploring treatment options.
Cartilage naturally diminishes over time, but regular exercise can help protect joints by reducing muscle strain and promoting the flow of nutrient-rich fluids.
Earlier this year, researchers at Stanford University identified a protein linked to age-related cartilage loss. Lowering this protein’s levels might help preserve joint health into old age.
Meanwhile, semaglutide, the active ingredient in medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, has shown potential as an osteoarthritis treatment by enhancing cell metabolism and maintaining healthy cartilage.
Although more time is needed for treatment development, these research efforts offer hope.
The team working on the injection treatment aims to commence clinical trials within 18 months, contingent on upcoming animal experiments.
Related: Ozempic-Like Drugs May Increase Risk of Bone And Joint Conditions
This research is funded by the Novel Innovations for Tissue Regeneration in Osteoarthritis (NITRO) program, an initiative from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) under the US Department of Health and Human Services.
“Through ARPA-H, we are driving toward a future where people don’t have to wake up in pain, give up activities they love, or face major surgeries and repeat joint replacements – so they can stay active, independent, and healthy for longer,” says Alicia Jackson, Director of the ARPA-H.
