The findings, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, point to a potential new use for an established drug, Lenta News reported.
Researchers screened 980 already approved drugs to identify compounds capable of suppressing inflammatory processes tied to osteoarthritis. Dabigatran, typically prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes, emerged as the most promising candidate during the screening process.
The research team tested the anticoagulant on mice and macaques with artificially induced osteoarthritis. In the animal experiments, the drug reduced cartilage damage, lowered inflammation, alleviated pain indicators, and improved overall mobility, according to Lenta News. Tests involving macaques showed that the medication helped preserve cartilage tissue and improved walking ability.
Additional experiments revealed that dabigatran interacts with the BIG2 protein, which regulates cellular receptors involved in inflammatory responses. This interaction helps explain how the blood thinner manages to curb joint degradation beyond its standard cardiovascular applications. Infox.ru reported that the drug’s ability to inhibit joint inflammation and slow the breakdown of cartilage tissue was consistent across the animal models tested in the laboratory.
Specialists emphasize that these results remain limited to animal experiments. While the findings provide a foundation for developing new osteoarthritis treatments, clinical trials involving humans are necessary to confirm whether the drug offers similar protective effects in patients.
Dabigatran is a prescription anticoagulant commonly used to prevent blood clots and reduce the risk of strokes.
The research team tested the drug on laboratory mice and macaques that had been given artificially induced forms of osteoarthritis.