Chondroprotection Following Acute Joint Injury: Prevention of Osteoarthritis

Excerpt

Disease-modifying therapies to halt or potentially reverse the progression of existing osteoarthritis have been the focus of many research and drug development programs. However, successful registration of a drug for disease modification requires lengthy and expensive clinical trials with structural outcomes such as joint space narrowing and a decrease in signs and symptoms as the main clinical endpoints. In addition, the clinical benefit of any drug will depend on the level of preexisting osteoarthritis at the time therapy is initiated. In many cases, the degree of preexisting osteoarthritis at the time of diagnosis and treatment may be too severe for a significant clinical benefit from a disease-modifying agent. Joint injury is a major factor in the development and progression of secondary osteoarthritis, loss of function, and eventual joint replacement. However, at the time of injury, minimal or no osteoarthritis often exists. As a result, joint injury represents a unique opportunity to evaluate disease-modifying agents in the context of prevention of osteoarthritis rather than the treatment of preexisting osteoarthritis. …