Innovative therapies for osteoarthritis

Ikarion Therapeutics is a spin-off company that develops innovative treatments for osteoarthritis (OA). Its lead product, IK-001, is a late pre-clinical stage, first-in-class disease-modifying drug for Knee OA. It is a new drug product protected by a composition of matter IP application currently in national phases.

This innovative therapy uses a new MoA for OA, which targets the underlying mechanisms of the disease. Activating PPARα prevents cartilage degradation by modulating key mechanisms, including senescence and autophagy, in chondrocytes and cartilage. This results in reduced inflammation and improved structural function: slowing and potentially acting as an anti-catabolic cartilage degradation agent.

Administration by intraarticular injection (IA) of a novel biodegradable microsphere delivery technology for 2+month extended-release of the API with 3-month long-acting efficacy. It has been shown to protect the joint structure and relieve pain in relevant animal models, as well as in a retrospective study of a cohort database.