mobanmarketLondon: Researchers have identified a drug that can significantly reduce bone and cartilage progression in osteoarthritis.
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In a study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, the researchers found that “MIV-711” – a novel selective cathepsin K inhibitor – can reduce disease progression in osteoarthritis.
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However, the drug was not more effective than placebo for reducing pain related to knee osteoarthritis.
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Osteoarthritis of the knee is a painful, disabling condition affecting more than 14 million people in the US and hundreds of millions worldwide.
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The pain of knee osteoarthritis arises from a series of pathologic processes involving articular cartilage, subchondral bone, synovium, meniscus, and other joint structures, ultimately leading to joint failure and pain-related functional limitations.
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A team of researchers led by the University of Leeds in UK, sought to test the hypothesis that cathepsin K inhibitor could alleviate osteoarthritis symptoms by reducing degeneration of bone and cartilage.
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In a multi-centre study, 244 patients with primary knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to receive either 100 or 200 mg daily of MIV-711 or matched placebo for 26 weeks to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of MIV-711.
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The primary endpoint of the study was change in pain score, but changes in disease progression were also assessed using quantitative MRI outcomes.
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The researchers found that compared with placebo, MIV-711 was associated with less bone remodelling, less cartilage volume loss, and lower levels of bone resorption and collagen loss.
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However, it showed no beneficial effects on osteoarthritic knee pain.
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According to the researchers, further evaluation is needed to confirm the structural benefits of MIV-711 and to determine whether these translate to more tangible benefits on disease symptoms.
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The researchers said that while the work is promising, they agree that more research is needed to determine the longer term benefits of MIV-711.
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