Story perspectives

Stanford Inhibits 15-PGDH, Regenerates Knee Cartilage, Starts Trial

6/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

Stanford researchers reported that inhibiting 15-PGDH regenerated knee cartilage in aged mice and induced cartilage growth in human knee-replacement samples.
Abdominal and knee-joint injections of the inhibitor produced thicker hyaline cartilage and, in an ACL-tear mouse model, reduced osteoarthritis, restored normal gait, and lowered 15-PGDH levels versus controls.
Funded by NIH and foundations, the work led to Stanford patent applications licensed to Epirium Bio and a planned Phase 1 cartilage-regeneration trial.

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Story summary

Stanford researchers reported that inhibiting 15-PGDH regenerated knee cartilage in aged mice and induced cartilage growth in human knee-replacement samples.
Abdominal and knee-joint injections of the inhibitor produced thicker hyaline cartilage and, in an ACL-tear mouse model, reduced osteoarthritis, restored normal gait, and lowered 15-PGDH levels versus controls.
Funded by NIH and foundations, the work led to Stanford patent applications licensed to Epirium Bio and a planned Phase 1 cartilage-regeneration trial.