FDA-approved epilepsy drug may help reverse osteoarthritis damage
Yale researchers have found that the FDA-approved epilepsy drug lacosamide can reduce pain and reverse cartilage damage in osteoarthritis patients. When delivered via a specialized hydrogel, the treatment shows promise for addressing the underlying structural causes of the disease.
Why it matters
This repurposing of an existing drug could provide a breakthrough treatment for osteoarthritis, which currently lacks options that repair joint damage.
For millions of people with osteoarthritis, pain and stiffness can make everyday activities increasingly difficult. Common treatments, including over-the-counter medications and steroid injections, may reduce symptoms for a time, but they do not prevent the underlying joint damage from progressing.
New research from Yale suggests a different approach. In a study published in Bioactive Materials , scientists found that the medication lacosamide can serve two purposes in osteoarthritis, reducing joint pain while also reversing cartilage damage. The effects were particularly strong when the drug was delivered directly into the joint using a specialized hydrogel.
Osteoarthritis is often called a condition caused by wear and tear, but that description leaves out much of the biology involved.
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