Osteoarthritis (OA) affects ~25% of all adult dogs and up to 80% of senior dogs. In cats, this number reaches 90% at the age of twelve. While OA is more prevalent in aged animals, emerging research shows that this degenerative joint disease begins much earlier than previously understood. 20% of dogs over one year and 40% of dogs under four already show signs of OA.
Source: Prevalence of radiographic appendicular osteoarthritis and associated clinical signs in young dogs
OA is a degenerative joint disease that diminishes the overall quality of life for both pets and their caregivers. It can lead to chronic discomfort, reduced mobility, and withdrawal from activities.
Owners also experience emotional strain, anxiety, and guilt, as their pets struggle with pain or reduced activity. Financial burden from frequent veterinary visits, specialized therapies, and assistive devices also impacts the pet owner’s quality of life.
Over the past few years, research and care related to OA have shifted toward intervention strategies and preventive care to enhance the quality of life for both pets and their owners. For instance, emerging therapies like Librela (bedinvetmab) for dogs and Solensia (frunevetmab) for cats reduce OA-related pain and improve the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for pets and their owners.
Radiosynoviorthesis therapy using Synovetin OA is another breakthrough that offers up to one year of pain relief with one single injection. It targets the inflammatory cells, the primary cause of pain and osteoarthritis progression. Studies indicate that 50% of treated dogs have no progression of disease.
The global companion animal osteoarthritis market reflects this surge in innovation. It is projected to grow from $2.26 billion (2024) to over $4 billion by 2033. The primary growth factors driving this growth are the rising prevalence of osteoarthritis, increasing R&D initiatives, and emerging novel treatments.
Emerging Trends and Breakthroughs in Osteoarthritis Management
The approach to OA management in companion animals has shifted beyond symptomatic relief. Novel therapeutics, regenerative medicine, and precision-targeted therapies are being used to treat OA with more functional outcomes. Here are a few examples:
1. Biologics and Monoclonal Antibodies
For years, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like carprofen and meloxicam were the cornerstone of veterinary pain management, including for OA. However, they can cause side effects such as stomach issues (including ulcers or vomiting) and affect the kidneys.
Lab-made proteins or Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have shifted this broad-acting NSAIDs approach to a precision-targeted treatment, especially for conditions like OA. These therapies focus on blocking Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) to relieve pain and comfort.
NGF is a special protein in the body that helps nerve cells stay alive, grow, and repair. Research has identified that the body releases more NGF around the inflamed and damaged joint in OA. It attaches to the pain-sensing nerves and makes them extra sensitive, which amplifies the pain signals.
mAb therapies such as Librela™ (bedinvetmab) and Solensia™ (frunevetmab) are large, complex proteins that bind to circulating NGF. Their binding prevents NGF from interacting with its receptors on nerve cells and hence cuts a critical pain-signaling pathway at its source.
Solensia™ and Librela™ were the first and only injectable monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment approved by the FDA in the United States for feline and canine OA pain. After their release, they were rapidly adopted by veterinarians due to their effectiveness in OA treatment.
Clinical trials demonstrate 76% treatment success rates for Solensia in cats. Veterinarians who have used Librela to treat dogs with osteoarthritis in Europe (approved by the EU in 2020) rated it an 8.6/10 for effectiveness in pain relief. These therapies have also shown improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in recent trials.
The success of these mAb therapies has validated the biologics approach and set a new standard of care in chronic pain management.
2. Regenerative Medicine
Traditional OA management excels at reducing pain and symptoms, but they do not fix the damage that has happened to the joints or cartilages. This is where regenerative therapies carve their niche. It focuses on increasing the body’s innate capacity for joint repair and long-term healing rather than just alleviating pain and symptoms. This offers a potential halt to the progression of osteoarthritis itself.
Stem cell therapy is one such prominent approach in this domain. It uses mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) taken from the pet’s own fat or adipose tissues. These stem cells are injected directly into the affected joint.
After injection, stem cells turn into new tissues and secret bioactive substances that reduce inflammation, attract the pet’s own healing cells, and encourage the growth of new tissue. Studies have shown improvements in quality of life that can last over a year following a single treatment.
Similar regenerative OA care strategies include Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) therapy and Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF).
The use of these therapies is growing quickly as part of OA treatment plans because they offer long-lasting benefits and reduce the need for ongoing medication.
Looking ahead, regenerative medicine will focus on making these treatments more accessible and practical. This includes developing ready-to-use stem cell products and finding the key healing molecules in stem cells.
The most promising future approach combines these treatments with pain relief methods, such as monoclonal antibodies, which help both repair tissue and block pain simultaneously. This combination provides a more comprehensive approach to managing OA in pets, enhancing their health both today and in the future.
3. Pharmacological and Nutritional Approaches
In OA care, small-molecule drugs and targeted nutrition are also progressing with new research and innovation. Drugs like piclidenoson are being studied for their ability to reduce inflammation and protect joint cartilage. In parallel, gene therapy is also being used to target key inflammatory pathways, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), for OA management.
In gene therapy, Early-stage research to deliver an anti-inflammatory treatment, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene, directly into the joint, shows promise in reducing inflammation. It could provide a long-lasting solution for OA management.
There is also an increasing recognition of the importance of targeted nutrition in comprehensive, multi-faceted care for pets. Here is how diet and its components can help in OA management:
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: A key study found that dogs with OA fed a diet rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have shown improvements in their ability to bear weight and their limp. Omega-3 fatty acids, especially EPA and DHA from fish, help reduce inflammation by blocking harmful compounds and balancing omega-6. This lowers the production of substances that damage cartilage.
- Green-Lipped Mussel (GLM) Extracts: A study found that dogs given GLM extract showed much better improvements in limb function and pain levels compared to those given a placebo. GLM extracts are rich in omega-3s, including Eicosatetraenoic Acid or ETA.
- Personalized Diets: This is based on the known connection between obesity, inflammation, and OA. Losing weight can be beneficial, as studies show that a calorie-controlled diet significantly improves movement in obese dogs with OA.
Utilizing nutritional science in conjunction with innovative drugs can help create long-term and effective care plans for managing OA in pets. These plans can be further personalized for each pet using technology and data to track outcomes and adjust treatments according to the pet’s specific conditions and needs.
Startups Translating OA Breakthroughs into Reality
The shift in OA management is being led by innovative startups that are bringing new science from the lab to real-world use. These companies are addressing key challenges, such as early detection, access to advanced treatments, and personalized care, with technology-driven solutions.
1. Activ4 Pets
Detecting osteoarthritis early in pets is challenging because it relies on observation, and pets often conceal their pain, making symptoms difficult to notice.
Activ4 Pets is tackling this challenge in OA detection with its wearable sensors. Its systems use accelerometers and gyroscopes to provide continuous, objective analysis of a dog’s gait symmetry, weight distribution, and range of motion in the home environment.
This directly addresses the “diagnostic gap” by detecting subtle, clinically silent lameness long before it is visible to the human eye. This can help in proactive intervention.
How this works: Activ4 Pets’ platform creates a personalized baseline for each dog. It tracks deviations from this baseline to collect useful data for vets to detect OA earlier and assess the effectiveness of treatments.
2. PetPace
PetPace offers an advanced smart collar that continuously monitors a pet’s health, going beyond traditional activity trackers. The collar tracks vital signs like temperature, pulse, respiration, heart rate variability, activity levels, and sleep quality. It also uses machine learning algorithms to analyze the data and detect early signs of illness, stress, pain, or mobility issues, such as those seen in osteoarthritis (OA).
When any concerning changes in the pet’s behavior are detected, the platform sends real-time alerts to both pet owners and veterinarians, facilitating early intervention.
The collar also includes GPS tracking, allowing pet owners to monitor their pet’s location in real-time, which adds an extra layer of safety.
PetPace is designed to help manage chronic conditions like OA, offering continuous health insights that enable veterinarians to create more effective, personalized treatment plans. This technology helps detect problems early, provides ongoing support and care at home, without relying on frequent in-clinic visits.
3. Vedi
Vedi is developing computer vision and AI software to analyze a pet’s gait through video captured on a smartphone. This innovative approach can aid in early OA detection, eliminating the need for expensive imaging tools such as MRIs.
This technology can democratize OA detection, enabling early intervention, which is crucial for managing the condition effectively. By transforming smartphones into diagnostic tools, Vedi can help overcome the cost and accessibility barriers associated with traditional veterinary diagnostics.
4. Ardent Animal Health
Stem cell therapy has shown great promise in treating joint issues like OA, but the field is advancing towards next-generation solutions. Ardent Animal Health is a leader in this progress with exosome-based therapy. These are tiny particles derived from stem cells that carry the key molecules responsible for healing.
Instead of using whole cells, their “cell-free” approach focuses on these signaling molecules for better anti-inflammatory and tissue-repair benefits. This method aims to be more stable, consistent, and scalable than traditional cell-based treatments.
The exosome-based therapy is injected directly into the joint to reduce inflammation and support tissue repair. This is an exciting and logical step forward in regenerative medicine, making this treatment more effective and accessible.
What’s Next
The research and innovation landscape of osteoarthritis care and management is vast and rapidly evolving. Innovations are happening in multiple domains, including drug development, regenerative therapies, diagnostics, nutrition, and personalized care strategies.
It will be time-consuming and challenging for R&D teams to track all these innovations and trends across domains. The pet care landscape is even more vast and complex to keep up with.
An innovation partner like GreyB can help you here.
We can help you track and filter innovations and trends that are important for your organization to keep the competitive edge in the pet care industry. Our experts can find the answers to your questions and challenges that you are even unaware of:
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