Osteoarthritis affects more than 30 million U.S. adults, causing joint pain and stiffness as cartilage wears away. Current treatment relies on pain relievers, physical therapy, weight management, and eventually joint replacement surgery. No approved drug slows cartilage breakdown or repairs damaged joints.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing drugs that aim to modify disease rather than just mask pain — including antibodies targeting nerve growth factor for pain relief, gene therapies to regenerate cartilage, platelet-rich plasma and stem cell injections, and drugs that block inflammatory signals driving cartilage loss. Studies also explore whether existing diabetes drugs like semaglutide reduce arthritis through weight loss and anti-inflammatory effects.
Disease-modifying drugs
Several drugs aim to slow cartilage breakdown by blocking specific enzymes or inflammatory proteins. If successful, these would be the first treatments to change how osteoarthritis progresses rather than just treating symptoms.
Nerve growth factor blockers
Antibodies that block nerve growth factor can reduce osteoarthritis pain more effectively than opioids. FDA approval has been delayed by safety concerns, but trials continue with modified dosing and monitoring.
Regenerative approaches
Studies are testing whether injecting stem cells, gene therapy vectors, or growth factors into damaged joints can regenerate cartilage. Early results are mixed, but multiple approaches remain in testing.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on which joints are affected, pain severity, X-ray evidence of cartilage loss, body mass index, and whether you've tried standard treatments like NSAIDs or physical therapy.
What types of trials are currently open
- Pain treatment trials — Testing new pain medications, including drugs that block nerve growth factor, to see if they work better than current options without increasing side effects.
- Disease-modifying trials — Testing drugs that aim to slow cartilage loss or promote repair, measured by X-ray or MRI changes over months to years.
- Injection therapy trials — Studies of injections into arthritic joints — including stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, or gene therapy — to reduce pain or regenerate cartilage.
- Weight loss trials — Testing whether medications like semaglutide reduce osteoarthritis symptoms through weight loss and direct anti-inflammatory effects on joints.
- Device and procedure studies — Testing nerve stimulation devices, arthroscopic procedures, and other non-drug approaches for pain relief.
Recently added Osteoarthritis trials
Periodontitis in Patients With Osteoarthritis
The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of periodontitis in patients with osteoarthritis. Methods: A case-control study is planned. The research would include patients of the Orthopaedic Clinic, University Hospital Centre Zagreb that have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis (cases). The control group would be patients from the Dental Polyclinic Zagreb, where the research will be conducted. All patients would undergo a dental examination to determine their periodontal status and periodontitis stage. Demographic parameters would include: age, gender, education, alcohol and cigarette consumption, exercise habits, BMI, oral hygiene habits, medication and medical history. Expected results: The aim of the study is to determine if there is a link between periodontitis and osteoarthritis. In patients with osteoarthritis a higher prevalence of periodontitis is expected, as well as more advanced stages of periodontitis, compared to the subjects of the control group. Scientific contribution: The results of the study might further confirm and strengthen the association between periodontitis and osteoarthritis. For the first time the proposed study will explore the presence of five key periodontopathogens in periodontal tissues and synovial fluid patients with periodontitis and osteoarthritis and examine the quality of life related to oral health.
Effects of Virtual Reality Environments on Walking in Adults With and Without Knee Osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common musculoskeletal condition associated with pain, impaired physical function, and movement-related fear. Psychological factors, particularly fear of movement (kinesiophobia), may influence movement behavior and limit participation in physical activity and exercise therapy. Immersive virtual reality (VR) provides an opportunity to modify the visual environment and potentially influence how individuals perceive safety and threat during movement. However, it remains unclear how VR-induced perceptions of safety and fear affect gait biomechanics, particularly in individuals with KOA. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of immersive VR environments designed to promote safety or induce fear on gait biomechanics and psychological responses in individuals with KOA and healthy adults aged 50 years and older. Participants will perform walking tasks under five experimental conditions: walking without VR, walking in a neutral VR environment, walking in a safety-promoting VR environment on low ground, walking in a fear-inducing VR environment, and walking in a safety-promoting VR environment on high ground. During each condition, participants will walk along a straight 6-meter walkway at their preferred comfortable speed. Gait biomechanics will be assessed using an inertial motion capture system and force platforms. The primary outcome will be gait speed. Additional biomechanical parameters and subjective responses, including perceived fear, safety, and VR-related experiences, will also be assessed. The study aims to determine whether VR environments that alter perceived safety and fear influence walking patterns and whether these responses differ between individuals with KOA and healthy adults. It is hypothesized that fear-inducing VR environments will alter gait biomechanics, particularly gait speed, compared with neutral and safety-promoting conditions.
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