One shot, new knee? gene therapy trial aims to quiet arthritis pain
NCT ID NCT04119687
First seen Sep 17, 2026 · Last updated Sep 18, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers are testing FX201, an experimental gene therapy, in adults aged 30 to 80 with painful knee osteoarthritis. Participants receive a single injection of FX201 into the affected knee. The study first checks safety at increasing doses, then gives more people the same dose to watch for side effects and see how the body handles the treatment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- FX201, an experimental gene therapy injected into the knee that delivers instructions for a natural anti-inflammatory protein
- What this could lead to
- If it works, a single knee injection could one day ease osteoarthritis pain by helping the joint make its own anti-inflammatory protein.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early safety study with a small number of participants, so it may show the treatment is not safe or does not help. Gene therapy can trigger immune reactions or cause effects beyond the knee.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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72 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Mar 2020
- Expected to finish
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Nov 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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30 to 80 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Written consent to participate in the study * Male or female 30 to 80 years of age, inclusive, on the day of enrollment (Day 1) * Body mass index (BMI) ≤ 40 kilograms per meters squared (kg/m2) * Clinical diagnosis of OA of the knee on the American College of Rheumatology criteria (Altman, 1986) with radiologic evidence of OA (K-L Grade 2 or 3 for SAD Phase Cohort A and K-L Grade 2, 3 or 4 for SAD Phase Cohorts B and C and the Expansion Phase) at the index joint at the screening visit * Moderate pain in the index joint * Failed two or more types of conservative therapy for index knee osteoarthritis (e.g., structured exercise programs, topical or oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapies); or failed one prior type of conservative therapy and at least one prior index knee IA treatment (corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid) * Sexually active females and males agree to use highly effective methods of contraception Exclusion Criteria: * Reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease * History of or current infection in the index knee joint * Inability to undergo Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) due to presence of surgical hardware or other foreign body in the index knee * Unstable index knee joint (e.g., torn anterior cruciate ligament, etc.) within 12 months of Screening * Any IA drug/biologic use within 6 months of Screening or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) (e.g., IA corticosteroid, IA hyaluronic acid, platelet rich plasma injection, stem cells, prolotherapy and amniotic fluid injection, etc.) * Cold or radiofrequency nerve ablation of the index knee within 12 months of Screening * Arthroscopic or open surgery on the index knee within 12 months of Screening or planned/anticipated surgery on the index knee for the study period * Anticipated major surgery during the study period * Laboratory values that meet exclusion criteria * ECG abnormality at Screening or Baseline judged clinically significant * Use of immunomodulators, immunosuppressive, or chemotherapeutic agents within 5 years of Screening * Use of any other investigational drug, biologic or device within 3 months of Screening * Any systemic or local bacterial or viral infection requiring IV antibiotics or antivirals within 4 weeks of Screening or oral antibiotics or antivirals within 2 weeks of Screening * Known allergy or sensitivity to methylprednisolone * Any other clinically significant acute or chronic medical conditions (e.g., bleeding disorder) that, in the judgment of the Investigator, would preclude the use of an IA injection or that could compromise patient safety, limit the patient's ability to complete the study, and/or compromise the objectives of the study Note: Other protocol defined inclusion/exclusion criteria apply.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Altoona Center for Clinical Research
Duncansville, Pennsylvania, 16635, United States
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Arizona Research Center
Phoenix, Arizona, 85053, United States
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Center for Pharmaceutical Research
Kansas City, Missouri, 64114, United States
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Gulfcoast Research Institute, LLC
Sarasota, Florida, 34232, United States
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Metroplex Clinical Research Center
Dallas, Texas, 75231, United States
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University Orthopedics Center
Altoona, Pennsylvania, 16602, United States
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