Osteoarthritis and Its Complications

Novel approach on osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent joint disease costing approximately 1-2.5% of the gross domestic product of developed countries. Greater than 75% of patients experience pain on a daily basis. Current standard therapies for pain relief, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids are limited by their modest efficacy and long-term safety. In the last decade, the nerve growth factor (NGF) has emerged as a promising target for osteoarthritis pain.

The incidence of osteoarthritis is likely to increase. One of the greatest challenges with treating osteoarthritis and subsequent joint damage is repairing the damaged tissue, especially as cartilage tissue is difficult to regenerate.

One method for repair or regeneration of damaged cartilage tissue is to deliver therapeutic growth factors. Growth factors are a special class of proteins that can aid in tissue repair and regeneration. However, current versions of growth factors break down quickly and require a high dose to achieve a therapeutic potential. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated significant adverse effects to this kind of treatment, including uncontrolled tissue formation and inflammation.