Duke University researchers devised a new way to significantly prolong the effects of an anti-inflammatory drug. The modified drug, when injected directly into arthritic joints could last for several weeks opposed to the few hours that the unmodified drug would last.

This discovery is potentially useful for providing longer-lasting treatment for osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis.

The researchers modified a drug called interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RA) -a protein-- improved by attaching a second protein that clumps together at normal body temperatures.

According to the researchers, the combined drug likewise would assemble into clumps in the body to serve as "drug depots" that gradually release active drug particles.

Lori Setton, associate professor of biomedical engineering and surgery stated:

"Although the conventional drug is being used for autoimmune diseases, no one yet knows how much of it would be needed to achieve a therapeutic effect for osteoarthritis.

Current estimates suggest it would require perhaps two injections per week of the unmodified drug. With this advance, we believe treatments could go from twice a week to perhaps twice a month, and that would be a huge clinical gain."

The Duke Research team reported an initial proof-of-concept study on Saturday (Oct. 14) at the Biomedical Engineering Society annual meeting in Chicago and related findings online in the Journal of Controlled Release.

Find more details from Duke University News.