Injection to end pain of arthritis: New treatment will stop agony without side-effects

Scientists have developed a pioneering way to deliver drugs directly into cartilage

AN injection that promises to relieve the agony of arthritis could be available within five years.

 

Scientists have developed a pioneering way to deliver drugs directly into cartilage – tissue previously believed to be impenetrable.

The treatment uses tiny particles of a patient’s own cells to carry the “payload” into affected joints.

It would require only one day in hospital every three months and would not cause the side-effects associated with other therapies.

Announcing the breakthrough, Professor Mauro Perretti, of Queen Mary University of London, said: “Cartilage has long been thought to be impenetrable to cells and other small structures leading to strong limitations in our abilities to deliver therapies for arthritis.

 

“To our surprise we have now discovered vesicles [tiny fluid-filled sacs] released from white blood cells can ‘travel’ into the cartilage and deliver their cargo. They also have a protective effect on cartilage affected by arthritis.”

The new technique has worked in experiments on mice and human cells.

Further analysis is now needed before medical trials can begin but the treatment could be available in clinics in five years.

At least 8.5 million Britons suffer from osteoarthritis, the most common form, which is caused by wear and tear on joints where the cartilage that cushions movement is worn away.

 



 treatment will end agony of arthritis without side-effects



Cartilage has long been thought to be impenetrable to cells and other small structures leading to strong limitations in our abilities to deliver therapies for arthritis

Professor Mauro Perretti

Bones then come into contact with each other and the friction makes joints swollen and extremely painful.

Dr Lucy Norling, also of Queen Mary University of London, said the injections would be simple to administer, not too expensive, and the effect of each one would last about three months.

Professor Perretti added: “Our study indicates that these vesicles could be a novel form of therapeutic strategy for patients suffering from cartilage damage due to a range of diseases, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and trauma.

“Treating patients with their own vesicles may only require a day in hospital and the vesicles could even be ‘fortified’ with other therapeutic agents, for example, omega-3 fatty acids or other small molecules.”

 



The new technique has worked in experiments on mice and human cells



A study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine shows genetically engineered mice with inflammatory arthritis had reduced cartilage damage when treated with vesicles.

The particles also protected cartilage when injected in human cells grown in the laboratory.

Dr. Stephen Simpson, director of research and programmes at Arthritis Research UK, which part-funded the study, said yesterday: “Using the body’s own transport system to get new and current therapeutic agents directly into the cartilage holds the promise we will be able to reduce joint damage more effectively than ever.

“A healthy and intact joint results in less pain and disability, improving the quality of life for millions of people living with arthritis.

 

The new treatment for osteoarthritis could potentially save the NHS a fortune

“This study potentially bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and effective, accurate clinical interventions that could have tangible effects on people’s lives.”

Each year more than 140,000 hip and knee replacements are carried out at a cost of more than £1billion.

It means a new treatment for osteoarthritis could potentially save the NHS a fortune.

Some patients even have to undergo two joint replacement operations because artificial hips or knee joints can wear out after only 15 years.