A new research study at Frimley Health aims to offer hope for people suffering with osteoarthritis. 

The RAMBOH-1 research trial could prove to be a big step towards developing a new disease-modifying drug to treat osteoarthritis (OA), preventing chronic pain and enabling people to live well with the condition. 

It is estimated that more than 40% of people will develop OA during their lifetime. Hand osteoarthritis is a common form of this debilitating condition. It particularly affects women, especially around the time of the menopause. The base of the thumb joint is often affected, leading to pain, stiffness and swelling, and causing difficulty with activities such as writing, opening jars or turning keys. 

There is currently no medication that can slow the progression of OA, but genetic studies at Oxford University have suggested a drug called talarozole could reduce inflammation in an affected joint. 

“It was found in pre-clinical trials that this drug boosts retinoic acid levels in arthritic cartilage, and that may be able to prevent or even reverse arthritis,” said Matthew Gardiner, consultant plastic and hand surgeon, and Frimley Health’s associate medical director for research.  

“I’m really pleased that we’re bringing this study to Heatherwood Hospital. It’s an experimental medicine study that is investigating how the drug affects joint tissues. Ultimately, we might go on to have a clinical trial to see if it is able to treat patients.” 

Current treatment options for hand OA include pain relief such as anti-inflammatory gels, steroid injections, or surgery. 

For the research trial, patients having the surgical procedure will take a short course of medication before their operation, allowing testing to see if talarozole increases retinoic acid levels and reduces inflammation in the base of the thumb joint. 

“Patients in the study will receive either talarozole or a placebo, for two weeks before surgery. We will collect tissue when we remove the bone at the base of the thumb and then send it to the lab to understand whether the drug is changing the biology within the joints,” said Matthew. 

If the drug is proven to be effective it could provide a new care option. The research study by Oxford University and Frimley Health will generate information to help plan a larger study in the future, potentially paving the way for new treatments for osteoarthritis. 

“Research offers the chance to improve the care and outcomes of many patients beyond Frimley Health. It is exciting to offer new treatments for patients in research studies and then see the results of the studies adopted widely in the NHS and beyond,” added Matthew. 

Pictured above: The study team, from left, Matthew Gardiner, Aristotle Javier, Nicole Kader, Holly Wetherell, Victoria Ugochukwu and Sam Bosompem