Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals (ASX:PAR) announced a strategic research collaboration with City St George's, University of London, aiming to deepen the scientific understanding of pentosan polysulfate sodium and its impact on osteoarthritis.
The 12-month partnership will focus specifically on bone marrow lesions, which are increasingly recognised as a primary driver of chronic pain and disease progression, alongside traditional cartilage degradation.
By leveraging City St George’s proprietary research platform, the study will integrate advanced MRI imaging with sophisticated gene and protein profiling of human tissue samples collected during total knee replacement surgeries.
The investigation seeks to validate the disease-modifying potential of PPS, a semi-synthetic polysaccharide currently in Phase 3 clinical development.
Unlike many current standard-of-care treatments that only address symptoms, PPS is being studied for its ability to inhibit key inflammatory pathways, such as NF-κB, potentially providing therapeutic benefits across bone, cartilage, and synovial tissues.
With osteoarthritis affecting over 600 million people globally, the biological insights gained from this collaboration could be pivotal.
If successful, the data will not only differentiate PPS from existing therapies but also strengthen the company's position in future pricing, reimbursement, and international partnering negotiations.