Osteoarthritis sufferers could soon receive effective pain relief and reduced onset from the degenerative disease after Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals (ASX: PAR) reported breakthrough clinical trial results which identified a significant reduction of pain levels from participants using their Zilosul product. 

The 53-day clinical trial saw testing of the injectable Pentosan-based treatment (iPPS) which demonstrated a conclusive reduction in two key biomarkers associated with cartilage degradation in knee osteoarthritis.

“We are very pleased to demonstrate that iPPS was able to reduce levels of the biochemical markers COMP and ADAMTS-5 which predict disease progression in OA,” said Paradigm CEO, Paul Rennie. 

“The most pleasing outcome of the Phase 2b clinical trial was the positive correlation between the clinical outcomes and the objectively measured structural outcomes” 

Between the test group and placebo groups, results identified an average reduction of cartilage degradation biomarker Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) by 11.9% compared to the placebo group which saw an increase of 2.1%. 

Testing of ADAMTS-5, the enzyme which degrades the major cartilage component aggrecan showed an average percentage reduction of 5.1% whilst the placebo group saw an average enzyme increase of 10%. 

The breakthrough findings continue Paradigm’s push towards commercialisation of Zilosul having earlier in the month filed submissions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to test Zilosul on ten people who are likely to include retired NFL players who have early-onset Osteoarthritis. 

Paradigm is expecting the release further biomarker data in the coming months.