The ‘life-changing’ monthly jab that offers hope to people with osteoarthritis

A new monthly jab could be a breakthrough treatment for chronic joint pain caused by osteoarthritis, which affects 10 million people in the UK.

Results from a study of 510 patients with knee arthritis showed that those who received the shot had a 50 percent reduction in pain after four months.

They also did not suffer from the side effects associated with drugs such as ibuprofen and opioids, according to the results reported today but published exclusively in advance in Good Health.

The first-of-its-kind drug, currently called LEVI-04, works by blocking a substance that supports the nerve cells involved in transmitting pain signals to the brain.

According to researchers, the drug could also be effective for a wide range of other conditions, from back pain to frozen shoulders and certain types of cancer pain. The drug could also be used for any joint affected by osteoarthritis.

10 million people in the UK suffer from osteoarthritis, which causes chronic joint pain

Osteoarthritis, or wear-and-tear arthritis, occurs when the protective cartilage at the ends of bones breaks down over time. This causes pain, swelling, and difficulty moving the joint as bone rubs against bone.

The knee is the joint most likely to be affected, accounting for just over half of all cases of the condition. Current treatments focus on reducing symptoms.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, relieve pain and reduce inflammation, but carry the risk of stomach ulcers, for example. Stronger drugs, such as opioids, carry the risk of addiction.

The new treatment, developed by British biotechnology company Levicept, is the first in a new class of drugs known as neurotrophin receptor fusion proteins.

These target substances called neurotrophins, including nerve growth factor (NGF).

The shot will not cure the condition, but instead aims to relieve pain symptoms. Those who took part in the trial reported pain scores that were at least 50 percent lower

The substances regulate the growth and maintenance of nerve cells involved in pain transmission.

Neurotrophin levels increase when there is tissue damage and inflammation, such as in osteoarthritis.

The new drug blocks the activity of NGF and other neurotrophins.

Importantly, it does not completely inactivate the cells, as they have other functions, including repairing tissue such as cartilage and bone.

For the trial, the 510 patients received monthly infusions, with their self-reported pain levels recorded. X-rays and MRI were used to assess their joints.

The results showed that pain scores were reduced by at least 50 percent at each of the three different doses of the drug used in the study.

There is hope that the drug could delay the need for joint replacement surgery. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 100,000 knee replacements are performed in the UK each year.

“I can hardly believe how good the results are. It has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of chronic pain,” Philip Conaghan, professor of musculoskeletal medicine at the University of Leeds, who led the international study, told Good Health.

Larger studies are now being planned and if all goes well, the treatment could be available within three to four years.

Mike McNicholas, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Liverpool University Hospitals, commented on the research: ‘Osteoarthritis is currently the most common disease with no cure. These research findings are interesting and encouraging.’

He added: ‘The treatment is intended to alleviate symptoms rather than be curative. But it is good to see the team introducing this new technology in a responsible way, and hopefully the larger trials will be reassuring about the absence of unexpected complications.’