Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common forms of degenerative joint disease and a
major cause of pain and disability affecting the aging population. It is estimated that more
than 20 million Americans and 35 to 40 million Europeans suffer from OA. Analgesics and
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the only therapeutic treatment options
for OA. Effective pharmacotherapy for OA, capable of restoring the original structure and
function of damaged cartilage and other synovial tissue, is urgently needed, and research …

Biological therapy is a thriving area of research and development, and is well established for
chronic forms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, there is
no clinically validated biological therapy for osteoarthritis (OA). Chronic forms of OA are
increasingly viewed as an inflammatory disease. OA was largely regarded as a “wear and
tear disease”. However, the disease is now believed to involve “low grade” inflammation and
the growth of blood vessels and nerves from the subchondral bone into articular cartilage …