A new treatment for osteoarthritis has shown promise in animal experiments. Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have developed a single injection that can reverse joint damage.
The treatment uses a slow-release drug-delivery system. It coaxes the body's own cartilage and bone cells to repair the damaged joint.
In the study, joints returned to a healthy state within four to eight weeks after a single shot. Early tests on human cells also showed positive results.
"Our goal is not just to treat pain and halt progression, but to end this disease," says chemical and biological engineer Stephanie Bryant.
The team is now preparing for phase two animal experiments to gather more safety data. They aim to begin human clinical trials within 18 months.
Osteoarthritis affects hundreds of millions of people. Current treatments are limited to pain management or full joint replacement surgery.
The research is funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) NITRO program.