Knee Osteoarthritis Drug Aims to Slow Joint Degeneration, Not Just Pain

A decade in the making, a biotech company’s new drug could redefine how aging joints are treated—by slowing the disease itself, not just the pain.

Biosplice Therapeutics submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for lorecivivint (LOR), a once- or twice-yearly knee injection designed to slow the progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA).

The drug’s mechanism focuses on localized cartilage preservation, distinguishing it from conventional therapies that primarily address symptoms.

The OA-07 Phase 3 trial, which enrolled over 1,800 patients, demonstrated that LOR reduced pain within six months and improved mobility by one year.

Imaging data revealed preserved or improved joint space in treated patients, suggesting structural benefits. The trial’s two-year duration and large sample size provide robust evidence for its potential impact.

Erich Horsley, CEO of Biosplice, said:

"After over a decade of clinical trials, we are pleased to be the first company to submit a data package in the US for a potentially disease-modifying drug in knee OA."

Dr. Yusuf Yazici, Chief Medical Officer at Biosplice, noted:

"Once approved, LOR could offer both near-term pain relief and long-term structural benefit to roughly 25 million Americans with knee osteoarthritis."

Professor Tim McAlindon of UMass Chan Medical School highlighted the drug’s unique profile:

"The profile is unusually strong, especially given the drug’s potential to affect disease progression."

LOR’s localized delivery system minimizes systemic exposure, with safety data across a decade of trials showing outcomes comparable to placebo.

This approach targets older adults, a demographic disproportionately affected by OA, and may delay the need for joint replacement surgery.

However, the study does not provide clinical guidance, and further evaluation is required before the drug can be recommended for routine use.

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