Osteoarthritis Trials: Phases, Benefits and Risks

osteoarthritis trials phases benefits

Conditions that require therapy and treatment for their symptoms are some of those that can be most benefitted by clinical research trials, and osteoarthritis is a good example here. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis is prevalent in the hands, knees, hips and spine — with symptoms that range from pain to swelling, mobility decreases and more, but all of these issues are the kinds typically addressed during clinical trials.

At AGA Clinical Trials, we’re happy to be currently enrolling osteoarthritis clinical research studies, and we’re looking for participants who deal with this condition and are looking for improved treatments. What are the phases these trials will go through, what are some of the reasons for patients to participate in them, and how might such trials impact your treatment experience? Here’s a basic primer.

Phases of Osteoarthritis Trials

Like many other clinical trials, osteoarthritis trials will typically be split into four specific phases:

Phase I: A new treatment being investigated is given to a small number of people, helping researchers to evaluate its safety.

Phase II: These trials look into experimental treatments on the disease or condition, plus at proper dosages and how well the treatment is tolerated.

Phase III: These trials compare the new experimental treatments to standard of care (or placebo) to see if the former works better, and they enroll a larger group of participants.

Phase IV: These trials apply the new treatment to general patient care, including being combined with other treatments, to see how well it works in the long term.

Reasons for Participation

There are several major benefits of participating in osteoarthritis clinical trials, including:

  • You will have access to the newest treatments being developed, ones that may not yet be available to the general public.
  • You will be monitored by specialists throughout the trial who can offer you guidance and support.
  • You will play a role in advancing medical knowledge and helping others who may deal with osteoarthritis in the future.
  • You will not have to pay for any of the treatments received during the trial, as these will be provided by the sponsor.
  • If you qualify and participate in one of our osteoarthritis clinical trials at AGA Clinical Trials, you may receive compensation for your time and travel, as well.

Risks to Be Aware Of

While they typically aren’t major for a condition like osteoarthritis, it still must be noted that some risks are associated with clinical trials. The most prominent is the simple fact that treatments being tested have not been fully evaluated for safety, so there may be unknown risks involved. Additionally, because every person is different, you may not react to a treatment in the same way as others in the trial.

Still, these risks are usually far outweighed by the potential benefits of participating, which is why we encourage those with osteoarthritis who are looking for improved treatments to give us a call.

For more on osteoarthritis trials or to enroll in our open studies for this or several other conditions, speak to the team at AGA Clinical Trials today.

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