LOS ANGELES, October 14, 2026 — Keck Medicine of USC has launched a clinical trial testing the safety and tolerability of a new investigational treatment and its potential effects on preventing cartilage deterioration in people with knee osteoarthritis, the most common form of the disease. The therapy, known as CX-011, is administered through a single injection into the knee joint.
Clinical Trial Evaluates Investigational Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis
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clinical trialknee osteoarthritisKeck Medicine of USCCX-011
Approximately 33 million Americans live with osteoarthritis, a progressive disease that breaks down the cartilage that cushions joints. The condition can cause chronic pain, stiffness and reduced mobility, making everyday activities increasingly difficult. Although existing treatments can relieve symptoms, they do not stop the disease from progressing, and some patients ultimately need joint replacement surgery.
“For decades, physicians have helped patients manage the pain of osteoarthritis but have never been able to stop the disease from progressing,” said Jay R. Lieberman, MD, chief of USC Orthopaedic Surgery with Keck Medicine and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery with the Keck School of Medicine of USC, who is leading the clinical trial. “We hope to one day move beyond symptom management and toward preserving joint health for the patients we serve.”
How CX-011 Was Developed
CX-011 was developed in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Keck School through research led by Denis Evseenko, MD, PhD, vice chair for research in orthopaedic surgery and a professor of orthopaedic surgery, stem cell research and regenerative medicine at the Keck School.
His team identified a series of molecular signals involving GP130, an immune system receptor that tell cells how to respond to inflammation. GP130 supports normal immune, cardiovascular and stem cell functions. However, in osteoarthritis, immune system signals can become overactive and contribute to further cartilage damage, creating a cycle of deterioration.
CX-011 was designed to interrupt this inflammation-related signaling without blocking GP130 entirely. In animal models of osteoarthritis, Evseenko’s team observed signs of reduced joint pain, improved joint structure and function, cartilage regeneration and tissue healing after administering CX-011. These preclinical findings supported further evaluating CX-011 in a clinical trial.
Details of the Clinical Trial
Keck Medicine is the sole site conducting the randomized, double-blind, early-phase trial.
The primary goal of the trial is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the investigational injection. Researchers will also use standardized questionnaires and MRI scans to collect information about participants’ pain, physical function and cartilage health over the course of the trial.
Advancing Biomedical Discovery to Clinical Testing
The USC Office of Research and Innovation, through the Alfred E. Mann Institute (AMI), was instrumental in bringing Evseenko’s pre-clinical findings into a potential therapy. The AMI helps develop promising biomedical discoveries for clinical use by providing venture funding, industry connections and strategic guidance, including support for researchers who form and grow companies to develop new technologies and treatments for patients.
“As an academic health system, we bring scientists and physicians together to shape research around the needs of our patients,” said Lieberman. “That collaboration, combined with the resources needed to move discoveries beyond the laboratory, allows us to rigorously evaluate emerging approaches that may expand patients’ treatment options.”
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For more information about Keck Medicine of USC, please visit news.KeckMedicine.org.
This announcement is intended to share information about Keck Medicine’s research involvement and is not soliciting or encouraging participation.
This clinical trial is funded by CarthroniX Inc., the developer of CX-011. Evseenko is a co-founder and major shareholder of CarthroniX Inc. and its parent company, Innata Bio.
USC’s Alfred E. Mann Institute, part of the USC Office of Research and Innovation, is an investor in Innata Bio and USC also holds a financial interest in CarthroniX Inc.
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Photo credits: Adobe Stock (lead), Ricardo Carrasco III (headshot)
Contact media relations
news.KeckMedicine.org
Contact: Gabriella Robison at gabriella.robison@med.usc.edu
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TJ Halvorson
The De Angelis Group | Orthopedics This Week | MSK Innovations
Why This Matters
Two Perspectives
MBA Lens: Economic and industry impact
Keck Medicine of USC is conducting an early-phase clinical trial for CX-011, an investigational single-injection therapy for knee osteoarthritis. This represents a significant market opportunity as current treatments only manage symptoms, not disease progression. The therapy, developed at USC, is funded by CarthroniX Inc., with USC and its Alfred E. Mann Institute holding financial interests, demonstrating a strategic academic-industry collaboration for commercialization.
- CX-011 targets a critical unmet need for disease-modifying osteoarthritis treatments, potentially disrupting the current symptom-management market.
- The funding model involves CarthroniX Inc. and Innata Bio, with USC's Alfred E. Mann Institute as an investor, illustrating a direct pathway from academic discovery to commercial development.
PhD Lens: Clinical and outcomes impact
Keck Medicine of USC has initiated an early-phase clinical trial for CX-011, an investigational therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Developed by Dr. Denis Evseenko's team, CX-011 is designed to interrupt inflammation-related signaling involving the GP130 immune system receptor without complete blockade. Preclinical animal models showed reduced joint pain, improved joint structure, and cartilage regeneration, supporting its evaluation for safety and tolerability in humans.
- CX-011 modulates GP130-related molecular signals to interrupt overactive immune system inflammation contributing to cartilage damage in osteoarthritis.
- The randomized, double-blind, early-phase trial primarily assesses safety and tolerability, utilizing MRI scans and standardized questionnaires to evaluate cartilage health and physical function.
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Discussion
This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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