Medipost said that it started administering SMUP-IA-01, an injection type knee osteoarthritis treatment, in a phase 2 trial in Korea.

The phase 2 trial follows a previous phase 1 clinical trial of SMUP-IA-01, where the company confirmed the safety and improvement of pain and joint function in 12 patients with knee osteoarthritis at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH).

The company will conduct the trial at five medical institutions -- SNUH, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Severance Hospital, Asan Medical Center, and Korea University Anam Hospital – and administer the treatment to 90 knee osteoarthritis patients who have a Kellgren-Lawrence grading scale of 2-3.

In the clinical trial, Medipost plans to divide the 90 patients into three groups – low- and medium-dose SMUP-IA-01 group and an active control group -- and administer the drug once by injection. Afterward, the company will undergo a one-year observation period, evaluate the treatment's safety and exploratory efficacy, and decide on an optimal dose for the phase 3 clinical trial.

“Although there were difficulties in conducting clinical trials due to Covid-19, we will proceed with clinical trials without any setbacks, starting with this patient administration,” a company official said. “We look forward to contributing to improving the quality of life of osteoarthritis patients shortly.”