Can New Drugs Slow Cartilage Loss in Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis affects millions worldwide.
It damages joint cartilage over time.
Pain and stiffness gradually increase.
For decades, treatment focused on symptoms.
Pain relief was the main goal.
Cartilage loss continued unchecked.
Now, drug research is shifting direction.
Scientists want to slow joint damage itself.
The focus is on disease modification.
These treatments are called disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs.
They aim to protect cartilage.
Some also target inflammation pathways.
One major target is low-grade inflammation.
Inflammation accelerates cartilage breakdown.
New drugs try to block these signals.
Another approach targets bone-cartilage interaction.
Changes in bone affect cartilage health.
Some drugs aim to rebalance this process.
Nerve growth factor inhibitors gained attention.
They reduce pain effectively.
However, safety concerns slowed progress.
Regenerative strategies are also emerging.
Some drugs stimulate cartilage repair signals.
Others aim to slow cell degeneration.
Injectable therapies are under study.
They deliver drugs directly into joints.
This limits whole-body side effects.
Biologic drugs are also being tested.
They act on specific molecular targets.
Precision is their main advantage.
Clinical trials show mixed results.
Some drugs slow cartilage thinning slightly.
Others fail to show meaningful benefit.
Experts say early diagnosis matters.
Drugs work best before severe damage.
Late-stage osteoarthritis remains difficult.
Regulators remain cautious.
Long-term safety is critical.
Joint structure must not worsen.
For now, no drug fully stops cartilage loss.
However, progress is visible.
Research pipelines continue to expand.
New drugs may soon change osteoarthritis care.
The goal is preservation, not just pain control.
Hope is growing, slowly but steadily.