A vaccination once a month can relieve pain from arthritic knees

A new type of drug could be a game changer for millions of Britons suffering from chronic knee pain.

The drug, which is given once a month, doesn’t appear to have any of the side effects associated with widely used pain relievers like ibuprofen.

It works by blocking a connection that supports nerve cells involved in the transmission of pain and prevents them from working properly.

More than 600 people with knee osteoarthritis are taking part in clinical trials of the UK-developed drug, which researchers hope may also be effective for other chronic pain conditions.

The drug, which is given once a month, doesn’t appear to have any of the side effects associated with widely used pain relievers like ibuprofen [File photo]

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative arthritis, occurs when the protective cartilage at the end of bones breaks down over time, causing pain, swelling, and trouble moving the joint when bone rubs against bone.

The knee is the joint most likely to be affected by osteoarthritis, accounting for just over half of all cases of the condition.

The joint can become red and swollen and deformed, resulting in bowed or bent legs as the body looks for less painful areas of the joint to use.

Current treatments aim to reduce symptoms. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, relieve pain and reduce inflammation, but carry the risk of stomach ulcers. Links to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke have also been found.

The new treatment, dubbed LEVI-04 and developed by UK-based Levicept, is the first in a new class of drugs known as neurotrophin receptor fusion proteins. These work differently than other pain relievers and act on a compound called nerve growth factor (NGF).

Osteoarthritis, or degenerative arthritis, occurs when the protective cartilage at the end of bones breaks down over time, causing pain, swelling, and trouble moving the joint when bone rubs against bone

Ibuprofen blocks an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX), which leads to anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. NGF plays a key role in the growth and maintenance of the nerve cells that send messages to the brain about physical sensations like pain and temperature.

Complete blockage would reduce pain, but since nerve cells have other functions, such as B. repair, this would be harmful.

The new drug circumvents this by only targeting excess nerve cells, mopping them up and leaving enough for healthy function.

About 620 people are taking part in a clinical trial of the drug at centers in Europe and Hong Kong. It will be compared to a placebo and the participants’ pain levels will be measured over 17 weeks.

There is hope that LEVI-04 could delay the need for joint replacement surgery.

Commenting on the new drug, Mike McNicholas, Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Liverpool University Hospitals: “This treatment aims to use a monthly injection to relieve the debilitating pain of knee and hip arthritis and would be preferable to patients who several tablets taken at different times of the day.

“But nerves also serve to protect the joint from excessive forces and to regulate blood flow. Responsible initiation is required with this approach to treatment.

“The results of this study should be viewed with caution. They might be on to something – but only time will tell.”

Could people with knee osteoarthritis soon be offered fitted shoes instead of joint replacement surgery?

The Apos shoes look like sneakers, but each have two adjustable convex rubber “pods” on the front and back of the sole that are calibrated to change the way you run. This changes the center of pressure in the knee joint and relieves the pain.

Last month, a National Institutes for Health and Care Excellence committee recommended the shoes for patients with severe osteoarthritis who are otherwise eligible for knee surgery. A final decision is expected in spring.

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A once-a-month injection could ease pain in arthritic knees: More than 600 people with knee osteoarthritis are taking part in clinical trials of the drug