ACR/ARHP 2016

Wnt inhibitor minimises cartilage loss and pain, improves mobility

Y usuf Yazici, MD, of Samumed LLC, San Diego, California, explained that therapies for osteoarthritis treat joint pain and mobility, though they provide limited efficacy and their long-term safety is questioned. Recent research has demonstrated that the Wnt signalling pathway helps form joint tissues. The research has suggested that an altered Wnt pathway is linked to loss of cartilage. Dr Yazici remarked, “Osteoarthritis is debilitating and affects nearly 30 million patients in the US alone. We are looking to develop a disease-modifying therapy that regrows cartilage and also safely treats signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis.” Dr Yazici and coinvestigators assessed the impact of a single intraarticular injection of the Wnt inhibitor SM04690 on joint pain and mobility in 61 patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the knee. They used OutcomeMeasures in Rheumatology (OMERACT)-Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) strict responder data to measure efficacy. Dr Yazici commented, “We analysed OMERACT-OARSI responses to further evaluate the relevance of the data on signs and symptoms we had observed. SM04690 holds the potential of genuine disease modification, as well as alleviation of the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis.” Patients were an average of 62.6 ± 5.7 years of age, 67% were female, and their average body mass index was 30.4 ± 4.7. Each escalation cohort of 20 patients included 16 patients given the study drug and four given placebo. SM04690 was dosed at 0.03, 0.07, and 0.23 mg in a 2 mL injection. Patients received one injection into the affected knee on the first day and were followed for 24 weeks. Dr Yazici and colleagues collected safety, pharmacokinetic, biomarker, and preliminary efficacy data, including Western Ontario McMasters Universities Arthritis

A Wnt inhibitor showed early signs of minimising pain, improving joint mobility, and slowing or reversing cartilage loss in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, according to positive results of a 24-week, multicentre, single-dose escalation, randomised controlled trial.

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Elsevier Conference Series • ACR/ARHP 2016 Annual Meeting