New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Osteoarthritis, Knee

Knee osteoarthritis affects more than 14 million adults in the US, making it one of the most common causes of chronic pain and disability. Current treatment includes weight loss, physical therapy, pain medications, cortisone injections, and eventually joint replacement for severe cases. Most treatments manage symptoms rather than slow cartilage loss.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing drugs that may slow cartilage breakdown or stimulate repair, including injections of growth factors, stem cells, and anti-inflammatory biologics. Researchers are studying disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) that target specific cartilage-degrading enzymes. Other work focuses on nerve ablation for pain, platelet-rich plasma injections, and imaging biomarkers to track disease progression.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on arthritis severity on X-ray, pain level, prior treatments tried, age, and body weight.

What types of trials are currently open

• Pain management trials — Testing new pain medications, nerve blocks, or radiofrequency ablation techniques to reduce knee pain without surgery.
• Injection trials — Testing stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, growth factors, or anti-inflammatory biologics injected directly into the knee joint.
• DMOAD trials — Testing drugs that may slow cartilage loss, tracking changes on MRI over months to years. These trials often require less severe arthritis.
• Device studies — Testing knee braces, insoles, vibration platforms, or electrical stimulation devices that may reduce pain or improve function.
• Surgical technique trials — Comparing different approaches to partial knee replacement, cartilage repair, or arthroscopic treatment.