New nerve-targeting therapy outperforms steroid injections for knee arthritis pain

A new nerve-selective therapy called Reneurx (Brixton Biosciences) is turning heads in orthopedics as a potentially superior alternative to corticosteroid injections for knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain. Presented at the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons Annual Meeting in Dallas, results from a multicenter randomized trial showed Reneurx consistently delivered greater pain relief and better functional outcomes over a 6-month follow-up period.

The therapy works by selectively targeting nerves involved in pain signaling — offering a conservative, nonsurgical route for patients who aren't ready for or don't want surgery. Researchers across 11 sites enrolled 264 patients with knee OA pain, comparing Reneurx to intra-articular corticosteroid injections using standardized pain and function scoring tools.

By the Numbers:

• 85.1% of Reneurx patients achieved ≥30% pain reduction at 6 months vs. 61.3% in the steroid group
• 76% vs. 46.3% achieved ≥50% pain reduction at 6 months
• 53.9% vs. 26.3% achieved ≥80% pain reduction at 6 months
• Patients with BMI ≥30 in the Reneurx group had a 23.9% higher responder rate vs. the steroid group

Why it matters: With no cure for OA on the horizon, Reneurx offers a meaningful new tool for long-term conservative management — especially for patients with obesity, who often respond poorly to standard treatments. Longer-term data at 1 year and beyond will be key to confirming durability and safety.