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Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals’ osteoarthritis trial remains ahead of schedule

Published: 11:21 27 Mar 2018 AEDT

a person experiencing knee pain
Paradigm has maintained a strong momentum in the clinical trial

Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Ltd’s (ASX:PAR) phase 2b clinical trial in participants with knee osteoarthritis and concurrent bone marrow lesions is 50% recruited and remains ahead of schedule.

The data from this clinical trial of Paradigm’s injectable pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) treatment is expected to be reported in the third quarter of calendar year 2018.

Paradigm chief executive officer Paul Rennie said: “the clinical trials are aimed at diseases for which there are very few safe and effective drugs meaning Paradigm is focusing on market sectors where there are high levels of unmet medical needs and high levels of commercial interest.

READ: Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals has success with PPS osteoarthritis treatment

Paradigm has been able to maintain a strong momentum in the clinical trial in participants with osteoarthritis (OA) and concurrent bone marrow lesions (BML).

Injectable PPS has the potential to be a ‘break-through’ treatment, whereas current therapies provide often inadequate pain-relief, have no effect on the degenerating joint structures or BMLs, and are also associated with significant adverse side effects.

Targeting the most common form of joint disease globally

It is estimated that the therapeutic treatment market size for OA is US$5 billion per annum and this figure could grow if new, effective, patented treatments such a PPS are commercialised.

OA also remains the most common form of joint disease globally. In the US alone, it affects over 27 million adults, while in Australia, arthritis affects around 3 million people.

Viral arthralgia phase 2a clinical trial progressing

Paradigm is also treating 24 patients with Ross River virus (RRV) induced arthralgia (painful joints) as part of its phase 2a clinical trial of PPS injections.

The phase 2a trial will demonstrate the potential of PPS as an effective treatment for patients with persistent joint symptoms following Ross River virus infection, where a treatment is desperately needed.

READ: Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals adds AFL legend to list of osteoarthritis treatment wins

Paradigm has provided PPS to doctors to treat a total of 147 OA patients via the TGA Special Access Scheme. Currently, 45 out of the 147 patients have completed PPS treatment for their OA.

Notably, the company recently added AFL legend Greg ‘Diesel’ Williams to its growing list of elite sportspeople benefiting from PPS.

Williams, who is in his early 50s, reduced osteoarthritis pain levels in his knees by circa 80% after he was treated by his doctor with PPS.

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