Largest study of osteoarthritis genetics discovers new drug targets

Largest study of osteoarthritis genetics discovers new drug targets

Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability and chronic pain worldwide, affecting an estimated 595 million people worldwide. Projections suggest this number will rise to 1 billion by 2050. Despite their profound impact on individuals and societies, no disease-modifying treatments are currently available. Now an international team of researchers led by Helmholtz Munich has made new discoveries by studying the genetics of osteoarthritis in nearly 2 million people, uncovering hundreds of potential new drug targets and ways to replicate existing treatments.

Ten percent of genetic targets linked to approved drugs

The research team conducted the largest genome-wide association study (GWAS) ever conducted on osteoarthritis, revealing over 900 genetic associations. More than 500 of these associations had never been reported before, providing new insights into the genetic landscape of the disease. By integrating various biomedical datasets, the researchers identified 700 genes with high confidence as being involved in osteoarthritis. In particular, 10 percent of these genes encode proteins already targeted by approved drugs, opening the door to drug redesign opportunities that could accelerate the development of treatments. “With 10 percent of our genetic targets already linked to approved drugs, we are now one step closer to accelerating the development of effective treatments for osteoarthritis.”

Personalizing Osteoarthritis Treatments

The study not only provides valuable insights that could help agree treatment strategies. “Genetic variants associated with osteoarthritis risk are common in osteoarthritis patients,” says Dr. Konstantinos Hatzikotoulas. “Our new knowledge about them may enable improved patient selection for clinical trials and personalized medicine approaches.” In addition to these genetic findings, scientists identified eight key biological processes critical to the development of osteoarthritis, including circadian clock and glial cell functions. “Our discovery suggests that targeted interventions that regulate one or more of these eight processes could play another important role in slowing or even disrupting disease,” adds Hatzikotoulas.

“What we found in the largest Osteoarthritis GWAS study not only advances our understanding of the disease, but also lays the foundation for the development of more effective and personalized therapies that could transform osteoarthritis care,” says Eleftheria Zeggini.

Sources: