You may have seen it in the news over the summer. “The ‘life-changing’ once-a-month jab that offers hope for osteoarthritis sufferers,” was how one paper headlined the story.
The “first-of-a-kind drug”, they reported, had just completed a trial involving 500+ patients with knee arthritis. And the results were extremely positive: “Those given the jab experienced a 50% drop in pain levels after four months,” the article explained.
So, what exactly is the injection? And is it a potential “game-changer” for patients with knee osteoarthritis? Let’s look at the story in more detail.
What is the new drug?
The new treatment currently goes by the name LEVI-04, and it was created by a UK-based company called Levicept. LEVI-04 is what scientists call a neurotrophin-3 inhibitor, which targets the nerves involved in arthritis-related pain (more on this below). It’s delivered as a once-a-month injection.
What did the trial discover?
The trial enrolled more than 510 people with pain and disability caused by knee osteoarthritis. At 17 weeks, patients given the LEVI-04 treatment reported a “greater than 50%” mean reduction in their pain score (a measure of pain, stiffness and function in a joint with osteoarthritis). As trial lead Professor Philip Conaghan of Leeds University explained, the findings were hugely encouraging. “I can’t quite believe how good the results are,” he said at the time.
How does the treatment work?
It targets compounds called neurotrophins, including nerve growth factor (NGF), which are released in the body to help grow, repair and maintain nerve cells. The new drug doesn’t completely block these compounds. Instead, it “scavenges” excess neurotrophins that are present in chronically painful joints. This helps to turn down the dial of pain associated with arthritis damage.
Why is it significant?
Because there’s no simple cure for osteoarthritis, treatment usually focuses on managing symptoms – reducing pain, improving mobility, and so on. But some standard painkillers can have side effects. Ibuprofen carries a risk of stomach ulcers. Opioids, which block the transmission of pain signals, can be addictive. The LEVI-04 drug appears to avoid these kinds of side effects. It could also, potentially, delay the need for a knee replacement.
Are there any cautions?
The main one is that it’s still early days. This was a Phase II study and hadn’t been peer-reviewed at the time of the announcement. Secondly, with any pain-reliever, there’s the question of how much pain it blocks. Pain, after all, exists for a reason. If we injure an ankle on a walk, pain tells us to stop before we damage it further. That said, LEVI-04 is designed only to block excess nerve cells, not to eliminate all pain; so, important functions like healthy nerve growth and repair would remain.
Could this be a breakthrough treatment for arthritis pain?
It’s impossible to say at this stage, but the study is encouraging. Safe and effective new medicines for arthritis pain are always welcome, and this new approach has shown early promise. Bigger trials will be needed to fully test the treatment. Indeed, the scientists say they’re now “developing a Phase III clinical plan” for LEVI-04. We’ll be very keen to see how that develops.
Read on: Other recent developments in knee arthritis treatment
A breakthrough future treatment for knee arthritis?
Are “smart knees” the future of knee replacements?
More on living with arthritis
Why does my arthritis get worse in the winter?
