Osteoarthritis definition:  a disorder involving movable joints characterized by cell stress and extracellular matrix degradation initiated by micro- and macro-injury that activates maladaptive repair responses including pro-inflammatory pathways of innate immunity. The disease manifests first as a molecular derangement (abnormal joint tissue metabolism) followed by anatomic, and/or physiologic derangements (characterized by cartilage degradation, bone remodeling, osteophyte formation, joint inflammation and loss of normal joint function), that can culminate in illness.

Source: Osteoarthritis research society international

Osteoarthritis clinical prevalence is as high as 21.6 percent of the population in the United States, which constitutes direct health costs of over 80 billion US dollars annually. Current therapies, including pain management, improved nutrition and regular programs for exercise, do not lead to the resolution of OA.  Further treatment involves intra-articular injections of corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid or biologics. However, more than half of all individuals with diagnosed symptomatic knee OA have had enough progression of the disease that the only option for them becomes joint replacement.

More than 3 million total joint replacement surgeries are conducted annually around the globe. From 1999 to 2008, the utilization rate of total knee replacement procedures in the U.S. more than doubled for the overall population and tripled for individuals age 45 to 64.

Coupled with increasing knee OA prevalence, the rising costs of health care may inflict a tremendous economic burden on society in the future. There are currently no medical or surgical treatments that will improve this alarming trajectory. At least 10% of joint replacement procedures are revisions.  Infection is the most devastating complication after joint replacements.

Osteomyelitis is an infection and inflammation of the bone or the bone marrow. It can occur when a bacterial or fungal infection develops within a bone or reaches the bone from another part of the body. Bone infections can be life-threatening. They commonly affect the long bones in the leg and upper arm, the spine, and the pelvis.

Chronic osteomyelitis patients usually need both antibiotics and surgery to repair any bone damage. If the infection continues regardless high dose and prolonged antibiotic treatment and / or surgery, it may be necessary to amputate all or part of the infected limb.

Bone Sci. Bio Ltd. Is a specialty drug – device company, developing targeted treatments for bone and joint diseases and conditions. When our proprietary peptide hydrogel scaffold is paired with approved drugs, more effective bone healing is achieved, and systemic drug toxicity reduced.

Our BS-101 and BS-201 candidate products will address major joint preservation, joint replacement and osteomyelitis indications.