When most of us hear the word “arthritis,” we likely get a picture in our head of what it means. Marked by joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis, affecting more than 30 million adults per year.
Osteoarthritis is caused by the breakdown of joint cartilage between bones. Symptoms usually develop after the age of 40 and gradually worsens as arthritis is a progressive disease. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, but sufferers can take advantage of treatments to help alleviate symptoms.
Current treatment options for OA range from topical ointments and creams oral pills, and injections into the joints. Some of the most commonly used oral medications are NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen which are available over the counter and help to minimize swelling within the joints and pain that may persist. Other options are Analgesics. These are solely pain relievers and include acetaminophen and opioids. Opioids are powerful drugs that are only available with a prescription and many serious side effects are associated with opioids that result in discontinuation for a number of people. Corticosteroids are sometimes injected into joints, but these injections only offer temporary relief.
Clinical trials are currently in progress to find new treatment options for osteoarthritis. Tanezumab is a new type drug for treating osteoarthritis that could be an alternative to opioids and is currently being studies in trials. Tanezumab is an antibody administered by injection every eight weeks that inhibits pain-signaling neurons from activating. The drug has shown to be more effective than oxycodone and naproxen in trials thus far, and drug companies Pfizer and Eli Lilly have announced their plans to seek FDA approval for the drug by 2018.
If you are interested in learning more about Tanezumab for osteoarthritis, consider enrolling into a research study currently underway at Stamford Therapeutics. Study participants are seen by doctors and other medical professionals and are compensated for their time and travel expenses.
