The DMOAD Dream a Generation Later

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Experience with chemical biomarkers in DMOAD trials is very limited; therefore, it is premature at this time to conclude on their usefulness in such studies.³⁰

Conclusions

Research into the development of new and innovative DMOADs must continue, even if this effort has not been completely successful the last few decades, because there is a desperate need for effective and safe DMOADs. Moreover, the knowledge gathered over the past twenty or thirty years should not be underestimated, but rather should guide DMOAD development programs toward new heights and promising therapeutic targets (see Figure 1). However, any DMOAD program will remain in the dark until improved and comprehensive guidelines become available. In the meantime, we can only hope that the dream of a safe and effective DMOAD becomes a reality sooner rather than later.

Disclosure and Acknowledgments

Drs. Pelletier and Martel-Pelletier are consultants for and shareholders in ArthroLab Inc. and ArthroVision Inc., as well as consultants for Astra­Zeneca, Bioiberica, Boehringer Ingelheim, CEVA, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Rottapharm, Servier, TRB Chemedica, Virbac and Winston Laboratories.

The authors wish to thank Santa Fiori for her assistance with the preparation of this paper.

Drs. Pelletier and Martel-Pelletier are both professors of medicine and chairholders of the chair in osteoarthritis at the University of Montreal, and directors of the Osteoarthritis Research Unit at the Notre-Dame Hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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Figure 1: Human Osteoarthritis Articular Cartilage

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