12-05-2022
Interview with Corné Baatenburg de Jong, Dutch Arthritis Society
Corné Baatenburg de Jong, deputy director Dutch Arthritis Society:
"We see potential in Hy2Care's groundbreaking solution in the fight against osteoarthritis."
"Osteoarthritis is the most common rheumatic disease. In the Netherlands, more than 1.5 million people suffer from it and by 2040 this number is expected to reach 2.4 million," says Corné Baatenburg de Jong, deputy director of Dutch Arthritis Society. "If we don't find a solution that prevents or cures osteoarthritis soon, it will become the leading public health disease in 20 years. With Hy2Care's groundbreaking solution, we hope to find an adequate remedy in the fight against osteoarthritis."
"There are many misconceptions surrounding osteoarthritis," explains Baatenburg de Jong. "The condition is said to occur only in the elderly, to be a form of wear and tear and to be related to osteoporosis. The idea that osteoarthritis is wear and tear is something we have to get rid of. Osteoarthritis is a serious joint disease with major consequences for many people, including younger people. In osteoarthritis, the quality of the cartilage in the joint decreases. As a result, the joint sometimes becomes inflamed and the bone can change. 85% of people with osteoarthritis live with pain every day. 1 in 3 people with osteoarthritis cannot live the life they would like because of the limitations. At home and at work. This makes osteoarthritis not only a medical, but also a major social problem. The cause of osteoarthritis is not known, although genes, gender and obesity do seem to increase the risks of it. Unfortunately, there is currently no drug or treatment to prevent or cure osteoarthritis."
Potentially groundbreaking
"Only when we find solutions to cure and prevent osteoarthritis, we can stop this disease. That is why Dutch Arthritis Society has for many years been investing in research that may bring an effective treatment one step closer. We think Hy2Care hydrogel is a potentially groundbreaking solution in the fight against osteoarthritis. Hy2Care aims to prevent osteoarthritis and that is truly unique."
Cartilage repairs itself
Hy2Care developed an injectable hydrogel that repairs cartilage in the knee. Baatenburg de Jong: "This involves cartilage damage that has occurred following a sports injury, a wrong movement or accident. It is often younger people suffering this type of damage that can ultimately result in osteoarthritis. What makes Hy2Care's hydrogel so special is that it helps the body heal itself. The gel is injected, fills the defect in the affected cartilage completely and glues to the surrounding cartilage and bone immediately. This way, it’s impossible to form scar tissue. The ingredients in the gel stimulate the repair of the cartilage with the patient's own cells. Over time, the gel degrades and the newly made cartilage remains."
Preclinical results encouraging
The injectable hydrogel is an invention of Prof. Dr. Marcel Karperien and his team at the University of Twente. Baatenburg de Jong: "The preclinical results are very encouraging and the invention is now being investigated for the first time in a small number of patients. We believe this is a wonderful first step towards a solution that will prevent osteoarthritis after an injury. As Dutch Arthritis Society, we are actively committed, both financially and otherwise, to bringing the new technique to patients as soon as possible.
