Cell-based therapies set to become major players in the osteoarthritis market – Pharmaceutical Technology

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a slowly progressive joint disease that is a major cause of disability and pain among the elderly, second only to cardiovascular disease. The OA space is characterised by a high level of unmet clinical need driven by the limited effectiveness of currently available analgesics and the lack of disease-modifying OA drugs (DMOADs). The current standards of care (SOCs) in OA focus on symptom management and are made up of generic pharmaceuticals, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, antidepressants, and intra-articular injections. As such, key opinion leaders (KOLs) interviewed by GlobalData strongly believe that the development of DMOADs is the greatest current unmet need in the OA space.

Increased research into OA over the past decade has led to the identification of new targets, and this progress is reflected in the current OA pipeline. Cell-based therapies have the potential to address this unmet need within the OA space to some degree. Within the OA late-stage pipeline, there are two cell-based therapies that GlobalData believes have significant clinical and commercial potential. These are TissueGenes Invossa and Organogenesis Holdings ReNu, both of which have shown disease-modifying efficacy in clinical trials. Invossa has demonstrated the efficacy and safety of a single shot for up to three years, as outlined by Lew in a 2019 study published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (NCT03383471). Similarly, ReNu also showed positive efficacy and safety for up to 12 months from a single intra-articular injection (NCT02318511, NCT03063099).

Commercially, these therapies have the potential to be first-in-class DMOADs and to establish a novel paradigm in OA treatment and management. According to GlobalDatas primary research, while GlobalData initially expects a slow uptake for such cell-based therapies due to their high price, as they will require some time to prove their cost-effectiveness, the uptake is likely to improve following the initial lag period as physicians become accustomed to the therapy and as their cost-effectiveness becomes more apparent. Furthermore, the high price associated with these biologics may lead to reimbursement barriers in the genericised OA market, especially in the five major European markets (5EU: France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK), where a greater emphasis is placed on drug pricing and cost-effectiveness compared with the US.

However, even with the entry of cell therapies to the market, the unmet need for improved analgesics will likely continue to be largely unfulfilled, and an abundance of opportunities for the development of novel analgesics and additional DMOADs will remain. OA is considered to be a heterogeneous disease with a complicated pathophysiology and unclear aetiology. As such, distinct OA patient populations exist, and therapies targeting these subgroups are needed. Moreover, OA is most prevalent in elderly patients who often have other comorbid conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, but the currently available treatment modalities for OA are often contraindicated in these patients. Therefore, one of the remaining unmet needs in this disease area is for therapies that address OA and are appropriate to use despite the comorbidities an elderly patient may have.

Overall, considering the novel analgesics and DMOADs in the OA pipeline, GlobalData expects the OA treatment algorithm to change significantly in the future, with cell therapies garnering significant market share during the next decade.

Cell & Gene Therapy coverage on Pharmaceutical Technology is supported by Cytiva.

Editorial content is independently produced and follows thehighest standardsof journalistic integrity. Topic sponsors are not involved in the creation of editorial content.

Consent and Preference Management Solution for Healthcare Providers

Typically carried out at the point of care, errors in cell therapy thawing could compromise treatment efficacy, leading to significant patient impact as well as high costs and a compromised reputation for the products developer.This guide addresses how cell thawing has historically developed into the new techniques used today, along with the physical and biological implications of key metrics and components such as warming rate and ice structure. Also included are reviews of key studies from scientific literature and a consideration of the interactions between cooling and warming rates, as applicable to cell and gene therapies.

By clicking the Download Free Whitepaper button, you accept the terms and conditions and acknowledge that your data will be used as described in the Cytiva Thematic privacy policy By downloading this Whitepaper, you acknowledge that we may share your information with our white paper partners/sponsors who may contact you directly with information on their products and services.

Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

More:
Cell-based therapies set to become major players in the osteoarthritis market - Pharmaceutical Technology