Unlocking precision diagnostics and targeted therapies for osteoarthritis

She works together with research colleagues Stina Ekman, professor at HBIO, Anders Lindahl and Elisabeth Hansson at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

Can you tell us more about the project?

“Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common disease in humans and horses, causing low-grade chronic inflammation, severe joint pain and lameness. Racehorses often start training young and retire early due to OA-related lameness, highlighting the disease’s significant impact. The racehorses develop OA spontaneously, therefore they can serve as excellent research animal model and is superior to other induced models. Given their genome similarities with humans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved horse as a translational model to study human OA.”

“Current challenges in managing OA include its slow progression, which is often marked by subtle molecular changes that remain undetected due to the absence of reliable biochemical markers. By the time lameness becomes clinically evident, irreversible joint damage has usually occurred. In addition, the imaging techniques currently available are costly and tend to detect structural changes only at advanced stages of the disease. Clinical signs are further complicated by the complex anatomy of the joint, leading to heterogeneous symptoms. Finally, no disease-modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) are available. Addressing these barriers is crucial to improve the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of OA in horses, with important implications for advancing human OA research as well.”

“Regulatory bodies like the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and the FDA recognize the importance of biomarkers, especially early ones, in diagnosing, tracking and identifying reversible stages for better outcomes and for monitoring the efficacy of intervention.”

“Our translational research has identified novel OA specific biomarkers that are conserved across species, including humans. We have developed diagnostic assays to analytically validate and quantify these biomarkers in body fluids from both horses and humans. In parallel, we have designed a DMOA drug for the treatment of OA in horses and successfully conducted a clinical trial demonstrating both the efficacy of the drug and the utility of the biomarkers. Building on these findings, we are now advancing to a clinical trial in humans with knee OA to evaluate the drug’s efficacy in conjunction with biomarker-based monitoring.”

How does the research relate to the One Health concept?

“Our research directly embodies the One Health concept by addressing OA as a disease that affects both animals and humans, with shared underlying mechanisms. By identifying OA-specific neo-epitope biomarkers conserved across species, we enable translational diagnostics that bridge veterinary and human medicine. Horses provide a highly relevant large-animal model, allowing us to develop and clinically validate both biomarkers and novel disease-modifying therapies in a naturally occurring condition, which can then be extended to human OA. This cross-species approach strengthens the link between animal health, human health, and biomedical innovation.”

What are the key challenges and opportunities in relation to comparative medicine and One Health?

“A key challenge lies in the slow and heterogeneous progression of OA, where clinical symptoms appear only after irreversible joint damage. This makes early detection difficult and has so far limited the development of disease-modifying OA drugs (DMOADs). Another challenge is the translation of findings across species, as differences in anatomy, biomechanics, and clinical management can complicate direct comparisons.”

“At the same time, the opportunities are significant. Biomarker-based diagnostics create a common platform for precision medicine in both equine and human OA. Horses, suffering from naturally occurring OA, serve as a powerful comparative model to accelerate therapeutic development and bridge the gap between preclinical studies and human trials. By integrating veterinary and human research, we can advance early detection, improve treatment outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs in both domains — thus fully realizing the potential of One Health in musculoskeletal medicine.”