Lilly Announces Results From OA Pain Relief Study

(Image courtesy of Lilly)

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY) have announced positive results from a Phase 3 study evaluating an osteoarthritis relief medication. Lilly says the medication was found to deliver a statistically significant improvement in pain, physical function and the patients’ overall assessment.

In the study, tanezumab was administered in 2.5 mg or 5 mg and evaluated every eight weeks, for a total of 24 weeks, in patients with moderate-to-severe OA pain. Tanezumab is an antibody that is part of a class of non-opioid pain medications known as nerve growth factor inhibitors.

Participants in the study had experienced inadequate pain relief from or intolerance to at least three different medications and most has been coping with OA for about six years. They reported that OA caused a disruption in their everyday life.

Tanezumab was generally successful in the 24-week treatment period. The trial also included a 24-week safety follow-up period, for a total of 48 weeks of observation.

 “For many people, living with osteoarthritis pain can limit their ability to function, which can force them to make compromises in everyday life,” said Christi Shaw, president, Lilly Bio-Medicines in a news release. “Lilly and Pfizer have a shared commitment to advance the care of people living with chronic pain, and we see the potential of tanezumab as an innovative, non-opioid option to improve the treatment of osteoarthritis pain, a debilitating, progressive condition.”

For more information, click here.