A recent article distributed by the University of Florida describes their recent development of a gene therapy that could help both people and animals with osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis, the most common type of arthritis, is a debilitating condition that causes inflammation and deterioration of the joints. Mostly the condition affects large weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage in the joints that usually allows bones to move smoothly over each other wears away, causing bones to rub. According to the NIH, this condition affects 27 million Americans age 25 and older and the economic cost is close to $130 billion a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To help with the disabling affects of the condition, joint replacement and corticosteroid injections are the most common options. The goal of the UF study is to create a one-time treatment that works long term on both animals and humans.The newest study will determine the therapy dose that can be given safely, how much of the therapeutic protein is produced in the joint after administration, how long the protein is produced, and the effectiveness of the therapy itself.