Knee Osteoarthritis Injection Eases Pain by 58% and Regenerates Cartilage

A single injection of a new off-the-shelf stem cell therapy for knee osteoarthritis significantly improved pain and function for up to 12 months in 75% of clinical trial participants. The treatment also holds potential to halt disease progression.

In 2020, 7.6% of the global population suffered from osteoarthritis, reflecting a 132.2% increase in cases since 1990. By 2050, cases are projected to rise by 74.9% for knee osteoarthritis, 48.6% for hand osteoarthritis, and 78.6% for hip osteoarthritis.

Limitations of Current Osteoarthritis Treatments and Promising Stem Cell Therapy Trials

Current treatments for osteoarthritis include pain relief, typically with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), exercise as tolerated, and joint replacement surgery.

None of these options delay disease progression, and prolonged NSAID use increases risks such as stomach ulcers, kidney failure, and cardiovascular issues. However, clinical trials for a new one-injection stem cell treatment by the Australian biotech firm Magellan Stem Cells have shown promising results.

According to Associate Professor Julien Freitag, Magellan’s Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer, the off-the-shelf donor stem cell treatment is safe and effective, improving joint function and reducing pain while potentially halting disease progression.

The MAG200 treatment involves a single intra-articular injection of donor stem cells. As an ‘off-the-shelf’ therapy, it uses allogeneic (donor) stem cells, which avoids the need for labor-intensive harvesting of the patient’s own cells. The treatment uses mesenchymal stem cells from adipose tissue, which do not trigger an immune response.

Evaluating MAG200 Stem Cell Therapy for Moderate Knee Osteoarthritis

Researchers Randomly Assign 40 Participants to Stem Cell Therapy or Placebo in MAG200 Phase I/II Trial. Participants had tried conservative management and had average pain scores of five or higher on a scale of zero to 10.

Functional impact was assessed using a subscale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), with scores ranging from zero (worst symptoms) to 100 (no symptoms).

The study’s primary goal was to assess significant changes in pain and function, defined as a reduction in pain score by at least two points and an increase in KOOS score by at least eight points at 12 months. Researchers found that 75% of participants who received MAG200 showed clinically significant and statistically meaningful improvements in both pain and function, with a sustained 58% reduction in pain at 12 months. MRI scans revealed that those treated with MAG200 had improvements in cartilage volume and quality.

Potential Alternative to Joint Replacement Surgery for Patients Under 65

Researchers Highlight Potential Alternative to Joint Replacement Surgery for Patients Under 65

“Magellan’s stem cell therapy – showing pain and function improvements and potential disease modification – could delay or prevent the need for joint replacement surgery. This could mark a significant shift in how we manage osteoarthritis,” said Freitag.

Further research will aim to confirm the long-term effectiveness of this innovative treatment, which could benefit not just Australians but osteoarthritis sufferers globally. “Magellan’s development of MAG200 offers early access to a potentially transformative therapy, with the promise to significantly impact global healthcare and improve the quality of life for millions suffering from osteoarthritis,” Freitag added.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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