Researchers at Yale are reporting progress on a new treatment for osteoarthritis that targets both pain and physical cartilage degeneration. Current standard treatments for the condition often focus on managing symptoms rather than addressing the actual breakdown of joint tissue. This new approach involves the drug lacosamide, which is already approved by the FDA for other medical uses.
The research indicates that the sodium channel protein Nav1.7 plays a key role in osteoarthritis. While this protein is known for transmitting pain signals in nerves, the study found that it is also active in chondrocytes, the cells responsible for maintaining healthy cartilage. When this protein becomes overactive, it drives both joint pain and the destruction of the tissue itself.
To manage the application of the medication, the team developed a thermoresponsive hydrogel. This material is designed to turn from a liquid to a firm gel once it reaches body temperature inside the joint. This system acts as a local reservoir, allowing for the slow release of the drug over several weeks. Preclinical results showed that a single injection of the hydrogel outperformed daily oral doses, effectively keeping the medication concentrated exactly where it is needed most.
By repurposing an existing medication and combining it with advanced delivery technology, this study moves the medical field toward a strategy of disease modification. Because the drug has a history of human use, the team anticipates a faster transition toward clinical trials compared to the development of an entirely new pharmaceutical compound.