New Possibilities for Osteoarthritis Treatment
The largest gene study ever conducted on osteoarthritis has just been published in one of the world's leading journals, NATURE. Søren Thorgaard Skou from IOB has contributed to the project.
An international research group led by researchers from the Technical University of Munich has conducted the largest gene study (GWAS) ever on osteoarthritis. The results have just been published in one of the world's leading journals, NATURE.
SDU is represented in the project by Professor Søren Thorgaard Skou from SDU’s Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics (IOB), who has contributed knowledge about osteoarthritis and its treatment in relation to the genetic findings.
Offers hope for new and more effective treatments
In the new study, researchers have identified over 900 genetic correlations - including 500 new ones - that may influence osteoarthritis. Additionally, eight biological processes were identified as central to disease development, and several opportunities to use already approved drugs were found.
"The new research can potentially help tailor treatments so that patients receive precisely the treatment that works for them," says Søren Thorgaard Skou.
A Key Advantage: Existing Drugs Could Be Used
One of the significant findings in the study is that 10% of the genes associated with osteoarthritis encode proteins that are already targeted by approved medications.
This opens up the possibility of repurposing existing drugs to treat osteoarthritis – which could shorten the long and costly process typically required to develop new medicines.
“It provides hope that patients could gain faster access to effective treatments, since we may be able to build on medications that are already approved and in use,” says Søren Thorgaard Skou.
About osteoarthritis
- Osteoarthritis is one of the fastest-growing health conditions in the world, measured by the number of people affected.
- Osteoarthritis affects 595 million people worldwide and over 1 million in Denmark.
- Osteoarthritis ranks in the top 3 among a wide range of diseases in terms of disease burden measured by prevalence, number of planned hospital admissions, number of planned outpatient hospital contacts, and number of visits to the general practitioner in Denmark.
- Osteoarthritis is associated with pain, reduced function, and quality of life for the individual.
Read more about the study at NATURE
Illustration: Bo Kousgaard/AI
Contact
Søren Thorgaard Skou
Professor, Center for Muscle and Joint Health
Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics
University of Southern Denmark
T: +45 23708640
stskou@health.sdu.dk
Meet the researcher
Søren Thorgaard Skou is a Professor at the Center for Muscle and Joint Health focusing on treatment of osteoarthritis and other chronic conditions as well as multimorbidity.