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Imagine a simple injection that could relieve knee osteoarthritis. This dream could become a reality thanks to a clinical trial underway in England. But what is this revolutionary treatment and why is there so much excitement about it?
Osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that affects millions of people worldwide, is characterized by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints, causing pain and stiffness. Current treatments include physical therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs and, in severe cases, surgery. However, this new trial offers a less invasive, targeted and highly effective option.
A new approach to relieve osteoarthritis
Since early 2024, clinical trials have been underway at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in the United Kingdom, testing a new treatment method for people suffering from knee osteoarthritis. The process involves injecting tiny plastic beads – about the size of a grain of sand – directly into the joint. These beads will block the blood vessels that inflame the tissue and cause pain.
It involves placing a plastic catheter tube into the abnormal blood vessels through a pinhole incision in the groin. X-rays are used to position the catheter in the arteries before the plastic beads are injected through it. A similar study in Japan found an 80% clinical success rate over a three-year period. Performed under local anaesthetic only, the procedure takes about an hour and patients go home the same day, making it truly minimally invasive.
Encouraging results
Early results show that the treatment has already shown significant pain reduction and improved mobility in some patients in the trial. After treating around 40 patients at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading and following them for 2 years, the study shows that it is safe and effective beyond the significant period expected from placebo. This is a major advance in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Professor Mark Little, consultant interventional radiologist and study leader, said: “It is extremely encouraging to see the results showing that this treatment is both safe and potentially effective in treating pain that can be constant and debilitating. We are now focusing on the next step of making this a treatment available within the NHS.“.
Less surgery, more mobility
One of the strengths of this new technology is its ability to offer non-surgical treatment to patients who do not respond well to conventional therapies. Instead of undergoing knee replacement, a cumbersome and expensive procedure involving total joint replacement, patients could receive this injection in the clinic, with minimal side effects and rapid recovery.
By reducing reliance on invasive procedures, this treatment could not only improve patients’ quality of life, but also ease the financial burden on the healthcare system.
A solution for millions of people?
Knee osteoarthritis primarily affects older adults, but it can also affect younger individuals due to factors such as sports injuries or being overweight. With over 10 million French people living with some form of osteoarthritis, the potential impact of this discovery is immense.
The GENESIS 2 trial plans to test this product on a large scale versus a placebo and will further study the safety and efficacy of AEG in patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. Depending on the results, this treatment could be rapidly deployed on a larger scale in the coming years.