Sprifermin 'can reduce cartilage loss from knee osteoarthritis'

Patients with knee osteoarthritis could benefit from injections of a synthetic form of human called growth factor called sprifermin, according to a new study from Sweden.

Conducted by Lund University, the research revealed that patients with osteoarthritis of the knee who were given sprifermin experienced a reduced level of total femorotibial cartilage thickness loss compared to those receiving a placebo or sham treatment after 12 months.

The proof-of-concept double-blind trial recruited 192 knee osteoarthritis patients who were randomised to receive either sprifermin or a placebo at various dosages strengths, with cartilage thickness being measured at six and 12 months using magnetic resonance imaging.

However, the study findings - which were published in the medical journal Arthritis & Rheumatology - showed the beneficial effects of the drug did not extend across the whole knee joint, with the lateral femorotibial compartment (the inside of the knee joint) seeing significant improvements, but not the lateral femorotibial compartment (the outside of the knee joint).

The authors found no safety or injection-site issues with sprifermin and expect that additional clinical studies will be needed to replicate these findings, as well as to confirm the optimal dosing.

Lead researcher Dr Stefan Lohmander observed: "Currently, no structure-modifying treatment has been approved by US or European Union regulatory bodies."

At present, osteoarthritis is the most common cause of physical disability in older adults, with studies suggesting the average age at diagnosis is 55 years. To date, no medication or alternative treatments can prevent or reverse the structural changes of joint damage caused by the disease.

A spokesman from medical research charity Arthritis Research UK said: "This new approach using this particular growth factor looks promising.

"Although most previous studies of fibroblast growth factor 18 have been in mice, it has been demonstrated to play an important role on building bone and tissue. We'd like to see further trials involving larger numbers of patients to confirm the outcome of this proof-of-concept study.

"There is a real need for a treatment that slows down the progression of cartilage damage, as current options are limited to painkillers, exercise, weight loss and ultimately joint replacement surgery for end-stage osteoarthritis."