Our OA program
Sometimes called degenerative joint disease or degenerative arthritis, OA is the most common chronic condition of the joints. OA can affect any joint, but it occurs most often in the small joints of the fingers, knees, hips, lower back and neck, and the bases of the thumb and big toe. According to GlobalData, OA will be the fourth leading cause of disability by the year 2020. GlobalData estimates that diagnosed cases will grow to approximately 131 million cases by 2024.
In normal joints, a firm, rubbery material called cartilage covers the end of each bone. Cartilage provides a smooth, gliding surface for joint motion and acts as a cushion between the bones. In OA, the cartilage breaks down, causing pain, swelling and problems moving the joint. As OA worsens over time, bones may break down and develop growths called spurs. Bits of bone or cartilage may chip off and float around in the joint. In the body, an inflammatory process occurs and cytokines (proteins) and enzymes develop that further damage the cartilage. In the final stages of OA, the cartilage wears away and bone rubs against bone leading to joint damage and more pain.
Although OA occurs in people of all ages, it is most common in people older than 65. Common risk factors include obesity, previous joint injury, over-use of the joint, and weak thigh muscles. One in two adults will develop symptoms of knee OA during their lives. One in four adults will develop symptoms of hip OA by age 85. Current treatments for OA include weight loss, physical therapy, pain and anti-inflammatory medicines, and surgery, all of which address only the symptoms of the disease. There are currently no disease-modifying therapies available for OA, with drug sales for OA patients amounting to approximately $4 billion in generic painkillers in 2016.
GLPG1972 is a candidate drug developed by us under our collaboration agreement with Servier. GLPG1972 acts on ADAMTS-5, a key aggrecanase involved in the breakdown of aggrecan in joint cartilage. ADAMTS-5 has been validated in the literature in both animal models and human explants, and AGRS, a byproduct of the cartilage breakdown action of ADAMTS-5, has been shown to be elevated in the joints of human OA patients.
In June 2016, we announced that GLPG1972 was shown to be safe and well tolerated in healthy human volunteers in a Phase 1 first-in-human trial. In this trial, dosing with GLPG1972 reduced ARGS neoepitope, a biomarker for cartilage breakdown via the ADAMTS-5 pathway, by up to 60% in these volunteers within two weeks.
We evaluated GLPG1972 in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase 1b trial in 30 patients aged 50 to 75 years with diagnosis of knee and/or hip osteoarthritis, in the United States. Patients were given one of three doses of GLPG1972 or placebo for a total of 4 weeks, with a 3 week follow-up period.
In this Phase 1b trial, GLPG1972 was well tolerated. There was one treatment discontinuation with reversible abnormal liver function test on Day 15 in the highest dose cohort. Patients on treatment achieved a dose-dependent, reduction of ARGS neoepitope versus placebo:
Strong reduction of ARGS
‘1972 Ph1b study in OA patients
We work with Servier to develop GLPG1972. We are eligible to receive milestones and single-digit royalties on potential commercial sales for GLPG1972, while we retain full commercial rights in the United States. In July 2017, Servier licensed GLPG1972 for further development into OA patient trials outside the United States. Both companies are preparing a global Phase 2 program to evaluate the risk/benefit profile of GLPG1972 in OA patients, expected to start in 2018.