Lubris, Biomodels Report on Potential New Therapy for Osteoarthritis
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical researchers will
report findings today (Oct. 19) that demonstrate that injecting the
protein lubricin into knee joints can dramatically reduce cartilage
degeneration.
The discovery by scientists at Biomodels, a preclinical drug
research organization, and Lubris, a Massachusetts-based startup
company, could result in a new therapy for individuals at risk for
osteoarthritis, researchers said.
The study, by Gregory D. Jay, MD, PhD, a Professor of Emergency
Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at Rhode Island Hospital and
Brown University, will be presented Monday morning at the American
College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health
Professionals Conference.
In the study performed at Biomodels, the transection of the ACL
(anterior cruciate ligament) in untreated rats resulted in
progressive degeneration of the knee joints and the articular
cartilage. In rats treated with recombinant human lubricin,
however, the degeneration was far less pronounced, indicating that
treatment with lubricin can slow the development of osteoarthritis
following traumatic joint injury, and possibly reverse the process,
according to Dr. Jay.
Dr. Jay said the study shows that recombinant human lubricin,
given as direct injections, "significantly reduced the extent of
cartilage degeneration in the knees of rats with post-traumatic
osteoarthritis."
"If the research can be successfully translated into humans, it
would represent the first successful attempt to protect cartilage
and improve boundary lubrication in compromised joints, which could
revolutionize both the treatment of osteoarthritis and traumatic
joint injury," he said
Dr. Jay's ongoing research suggests that lubricin injections
could delay or even prevent the onset of osteoarthritis and reduce
or eliminate the need for costly joint-replacement surgery.
The findings are supportive of more than two decades of research
by Dr. Jay and his team, in which they have shown that lubricin is
a key component of human synovial fluid, itself a requirement for
the normal function and lubrication of healthy joints.
Abstract: http://acr.confex.com/acr/2009/webprogram/Paper13868.html About Lubris LLC
Lubris, a Massachusetts-based startup company, is developing
lubricin commercially and holds exclusive worldwide patent rights
to make, use, and sell lubricin. The company is in the process of
accessing capital markets to develop and commercialize
lubricin-containing products in various orthopedic and other
indications.
About Biomodels LLC
Biomodels (www.biomodels.com), a preclinical drug research
organization founded in 1997, develops and conducts predictive
translational studies for biotechnology and pharmaceutical
companies, particularly in the areas of cancer, cancer supportive
care, radiation therapy, and inflammatory diseases.
The company, based in Watertown, MA, specializes in (non-GLP)
efficacy studies that optimize dose, schedule and define mechanism
of action. The company also has expertise in modeling inflammatory
diseases, including those conditions affecting the gastrointestinal
tract. Biomodels' studies enable organizations to more readily
identify lead compounds, decrease the time to a clinical trial and
increase the chance of clinical success.
Source: Biomodels
CONTACT: Barry Wanger, Media Relations/Lubris, Wanger
Associates,
Barry@WangerAssociates.com,
+1-617-965-6469
Web Site: http://www.biomodels.com/
Posted: October 2009
