A new research which is a part of Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health Novel Innovations for Tissue Regeneration in Osteoarthritis (NITRO) program, received a major fund boost and the Phase I of this study has been successfully completed. It show promising results in animal studies.
A New Therapeutic Approach for Osteoarthritis
The research team has created experimental osteoarthritis treatments that shows potential to regenerate damaged joints.
What Is Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition in which a gradual breakdown of cartilage happens and as the disease progresses it can also damage bone and alter joint structure making everyday activities difficult.
Limitations of Current Treatment
Current treatment focuses on
- Symptom management
- Joint replacement surgery
Two Approaches Of the Current Research
- Researchers created a patented particle delivery system that can be injected into a joint, where periodical doses of the drug is released over several months.
- For extensive damage to cartilage or bone, they developed a new therapy consisting of engineered proteins which delivered through arthroscope. The engineered proteins hardens in place and attracts the bone progenitor cells to repair area.
Animal studies have shown that the affected joints returned to a healthy state within four to eight weeks.
The therapies also showed regenerative effects in human cells taken from patients under joint replacement procedures.
Clinical trials are supposed to begin in another 18 months. If this research is completed successfully this can be real gamechanger in the treatment of Osteoarthritis.
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MBH/PS