Mount Laurel, NJ (PRWEB) December 06, 2016
The Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) submitted a white paper on December 1, 2016 asking the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to consider OA as a serious disease. As an organization of professionals dedicated to the study of OA, OARSI is concerned about the growing population of OA patients, many of whom may experience progressive disability and decreased quality of life.
“Although joint replacement may be extremely effective in the right patients, we believe that earlier therapy with drugs designed to alter the natural history of the disease is warranted and that the innovative development of such therapies should be fostered,” said OARSI President Dr. John Loughlin, PhD. “To meet this goal, we believe that a flexible regulatory environment needs to be developed to allow others to invest development of drugs, that might slow, retard, halt or even form new cartilage, potentially altering the gradual joint destruction often associated with progressive disability.”
The detailed white paper outlines the evidence, demonstrating that OA fulfills the definition of seriousness used in the guidance regarding accelerated approvals by the FDA. The white paper specifically addresses:
- The increasing prevalence of OA along with the risk factors that have been identified in precipitating more patients with OA
- The associated morbidity and severity of the disease that leads to increasing disability and limitation of activities of daily living
- Newly developed evidence of an increased mortality risk in the US in OA patients; to support this evidence, an individual patient meta-analysis was performed using individual patient raw data from ongoing OA registry cohorts
Based on the data collected, OARSI supports and advocates for the development of new therapies to treat OA. As a regulatory authority, the FDA has a unique role in fostering the development of these therapies, which might alter the natural progression of OA.
For more information on OARSI, its educational programs and events or to read the white paper in its entirety, visit http://www.OARSI.org.
About OARSI
OARSI is the premier international organization for scientists and health care professional focused on the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis through the promotion and presentation of research, education and the worldwide dissemination of new knowledge. For more information on OARSI, its programs or events, visit http://www.OARSI.org.
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