Monovisc Is a Single Injection Viscosupplement Being Studied in U.S. and Canada

Monovisc is a single-injection hyaluronic acid product being developed by Anika Therapeutics. Enrollment has been completed in a clinical trial to prove the effectiveness as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis. There are approximately 350 patients enrolled in the study in the United States and Canada. Monovisc is being used in Europe where it was launched in May.

There are other viscosupplementation products currently available but none are single-injection. The other 5 products, the first of which was approved by the FDA in 1997, require a series of injections.

• Hyalgan
• Synvisc
• Supartz
• Orthovisc
• Euflexxa

While hyaluronate injections are approved for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee in those who have failed to respond to more conservative therapy, the use in other joints is being investigated too. As for Monovisc, Anika Therapeutics expects to market the product in the United States in 2010.

Related Resources:

• What Is Viscosupplementation?
• 25 Effective Osteoarthritis Treatments
• Any Joint Can Be Affected By Osteoarthritis
• Hyaluronan Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis
• Sodium Hyaluronate Effective for Treating Chronic Shoulder Pain

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