Emisphere Announces Initiation Of Phase III Clinical Program Of Oral Calcitonin For The Treatment Of Osteoarthritis
The oral calcitonin product is a new drug candidate with potential to be the first disease-modifying drug for osteoarthritis(i),(ii).
The salmon calcitonin is formulated in tablet form using Emisphere's novel eligen(R) delivery technology. Emisphere's technology creates the potential for salmon calcitonin to be available as a convenient oral medication for the first time.
"We are pleased to announce the initiation of Phase III trials for oral calcitonin, which may represent the first disease-modifying drug for the treatment of osteoarthritis," said Michael V. Novinski, President & CEO of Emisphere. "Currently, there are no available treatment options for osteoarthritis that actually help prevent disease progression or joint damage, and we are excited to be at the leading edge of research in this area. An unmet need facing osteoarthritis patients and physicians today is the lack of any proven disease-modifying drug for osteoarthritis. Oral Calcitonin would help prevent structural damage in at-risk joints, or the progression of structural damage in joints already affected. Current treatment options for osteoarthritis provide only symptomatic relief"(iii).
In osteoarthritis, oral calcitonin may stimulate a protective effect that helps maintain the quality of cartilage and reduce the progression of joint space narrowing(iv). Oral calcitonin also has been shown to protect against cartilage breakdown in animal models.
The Phase III clinical program is being conducted by Nordic Bioscience both in the European Union and in the US, and is planned to include more than 2000 patients.
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g.s.,
I wish there were no diseases.
LEV
Yeah me too. I really have a better understanding of just emotionally damaging any chronic illness is now that my kid has jra.
My knee is partly my own doing and partly I believe just plain ole bad genes. I had adrenaline junkie issues and continued to damage my knee and then with the good ole genes playing a part in all of this...I basically screwed myself. Now I get to pay the price for it. 39 (well almost 39) and need a new knee. Bleargh
But at least for those suffering from OA now, there is more hope.
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