Do you suffer from crippling knee pain? Our experts reveal the stunning new treatments that are side-effect free and could eliminate your agony for good… including this ancient herb that can reduce swelling and stiffness

For millions, a persistent ache in the knee is the first sign that something deeper is wrong – a slow loss of movement that can make walking, climbing stairs or even standing painful.

In most cases, the underlying cause is osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition that blights the lives of nearly 10 million Britons, with estimates suggesting it could affect a billion people globally by 2050.

Yet despite its scale and growing impact, treatment options remain limited and there is still not a single drug approved that can prevent a patient’s condition from advancing.

Research suggests that as many as 40 per cent of patients with the most severe form of the disease fail to get adequate pain relief from commonly prescribed medications.

Meanwhile, more than 100,000 people a year end up on NHS waiting lists for knee or hip replacement surgery.

Osteoarthritis develops when the protective cartilage at the ends of bones gradually breaks down over time, leading to pain, swelling and increasing difficulty moving the joint as bone begins to rub against bone. 

And, in the absence of effective drug treatments, many people turn to lifestyle changes such as exercise and weight loss to manage their symptoms. 

But evidence suggests these approaches often fall short. A 2020 study published in Arthritis Care and Research found that as many as 60 per cent of people with knee osteoarthritis experienced little relief from non–pharmaceutical interventions.

What is clear, experts say, is the need for new treatment options.

In the past year, a number of promising developments have emerged, and specialists are quietly confident that 2026 could mark a turning point in arthritis care.

‘There has been a lot of hope in early-stage trials over the past decade, but arthritis studies have struggled to deliver positive results in phase three trials that are needed before treatments can be widely used,’ said Professor Philip Conaghan, a specialist in arthritis and director of the Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Leeds.

‘However, there are now a couple of developments that genuinely look like they could become new treatment options in the not-too-distant future.’

So what are the new treatments on the horizon? Read on to find out… 

Pain relief… without the side effects?

For many people living with chronic knee pain, treatment often begins – and ends – with painkillers.

While anti-inflammatory drugs can help ease symptoms in the short term, they do nothing to halt disease progression and stronger options can carry a risk of side effects and dependency when used long-term.

Now, experts believe a new class of drugs known as neurotrophin inhibitors could offer a different approach – by targeting the biological drivers of knee pain itself.

Last year, a trial of an experimental drug called LEVI–04 in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis saw participants report a 50 per cent reduction in pain, alongside improvements in stiffness and physical function.

The study focused specifically on people with knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, the most common form of the disease and the leading cause of knee joint failure.

Researchers behind the trial say results from the phase three study – the final stage before a treatment can be submitted for regulatory approval – are expected this year.

Unlike standard painkillers, LEVI–04 is designed to switch off pain closer to its source.

The drug targets neurotrophin–3 (NT–3), a nerve-growth protein that becomes overactive in damaged knee joints.

In osteoarthritis, rising NT–3 levels encourage pain-sensing nerves to grow and become hypersensitive, meaning everyday movements such as walking, climbing stairs or standing up can trigger severe pain.

LEVI–04 works by blocking NT–3, effectively turning down pain signals coming directly from the knee joint.

Rather than masking pain in the brain, it aims to prevent nerves within the joint from amplifying pain in the first place.

The drug is injected directly into the affected knee, allowing it to work locally while avoiding whole-body side effects such as nausea or addiction.

Researchers say that, in addition to reducing pain, LEVI–04 may also help protect the structure of the joint itself and slow further cartilage deterioration – though this remains under investigation.

Previous drugs targeting neurotrophins were shelved because of safety concerns, but early evidence suggests LEVI–04 does not share the same side-effect profile.

Professor Philip Conaghan, lead investigator on the LEVI–04 study, described the results as ‘truly exceptional’ and said the drug could ‘offer a vital new treatment option to millions of patients in huge need’.

He added: ‘If phase three trials replicate these results, LEVI–04 would represent a major breakthrough for osteoarthritis treatment, with substantial potential in other pain conditions.’ 

Could new slimming jabs help? 

Weight-loss injections do not just help people shed pounds. They have already been hailed for their potential to tackle liver disease, cut the risk of heart attack and slow the progression of chronic kidney disease. Now, researchers believe they could also play a role in treating osteoarthritis – particularly in the knee.

Experts say GLP-1 injections offer ‘real hope’ as a potential new approach.

A 2025 Taiwanese study involving nearly 1,000 patients with knee osteoarthritis found that those receiving weight-loss injections were significantly less likely to go on to need joint replacement surgery.

The findings build on long-standing evidence linking excess weight to the condition. Research has shown a strong association between body weight and osteoarthritis risk, with one study published in September finding that for every five-point increase in BMI, the likelihood of developing the disease rises by 35 per cent.

Part of the explanation is mechanical. Carrying extra weight places added strain on weight-bearing joints such as the knees, accelerating cartilage wear and worsening pain.

However, experts believe the benefits of GLP-1 drugs in osteoarthritis may extend beyond weight loss alone.

That is why pharmaceutical companies such as 4Moving Biotech, a specialist osteoarthritis drug developer, are investigating whether the effects of these drugs could be enhanced if they are injected directly into the affected joint.

‘We do not fully understand why yet, but there does appear to be added benefits beyond weight reduction,’ said Professor Philip Conaghan.

‘We believe there may also be an anti-inflammatory effect from GLP-1 drugs.

‘There is real potential that these medicines could have a significant impact on osteoarthritis care, and that is now getting closer.’

For now, however, arthritis is not included in prescribing guidelines for weight-loss injections. 

Will ‘miracle’ gel live up to the hype? 

Earlier this year, researchers at the University of Cambridge unveiled what was described as a ‘revolutionary’ form of artificial cartilage – a development that could one day change how arthritis is treated.

The team has created a soft, gel-like material designed to sense subtle changes within the joint, such as those that occur during an arthritis flare-up, and release medication precisely when and where it is needed.

The material can be loaded with anti-inflammatory drugs, which are released in response to small shifts in pH levels associated with inflammation.

By mimicking the properties of natural cartilage while also acting as a targeted drug delivery system, researchers hope the gel could ease pain, reduce side effects and provide more continuous treatment for people with arthritis, including those with knee disease.

However, experts stress that significant questions remain.

‘As a delivery system, this is an interesting development,’ said Professor Philip Conaghan. ‘But a key question is what drugs we would ultimately put into it.’ 

Relief from joint pain… from a cancer drug 

Earlier this month, French researchers reported promising early results from an immunotherapy drug – a treatment more commonly used in cancer care – in a small group of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

The experimental vaccine targets interleukin-6, an inflammatory protein known to drive cartilage breakdown and joint inflammation in osteoarthritis.

Levels of interleukin-6 rise during inflammatory flare-ups, which can last for weeks or months. By targeting and reducing excess levels of the protein, the treatment is designed to soothe symptoms and potentially limit further joint damage.

To test the approach, researchers at the University of Paris Descartes enrolled 24 participants, all of whom had knee osteoarthritis.

Eighteen received three doses of the vaccine over 16 weeks, while the remaining six were given placebo injections. After 42 weeks, patients who received the vaccine were found to have significantly lower levels of interleukin-6 than those in the placebo group.

The researchers described the findings as ‘an encouraging first step for further clinical development’.

However, experts urge caution.

‘We have seen phase II trials of similar drugs in the past and they have not delivered positive results,’ said Professor Philip Conaghan.

‘The problem with these types of treatments in arthritis care is that they are likely to be effective only in a subset of patients – if at all – and at present we have no reliable way of identifying who those patients would be.’ 

Truth about Brazilian herbal treatment 

Last year, a study suggested that an ancient Brazilian herb could one day help ease knee pain linked to osteoarthritis.

The research, carried out in mice, found that the medicinal plant alternanthera littoralis – more commonly known as Joseph’s Coat – reduced swelling and inflammation, as well as pain and stiffness in affected joints.

The native Brazilian species, which grows in coastal regions of the country, has traditionally been used to treat a range of bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections.

Researchers reported that compounds found in the plant produced effects similar to those of some pain-relief drugs currently used to treat osteoarthritis.

Writing in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, scientists at the Federal University of Grande Dourados said alternanthera littoralis demonstrated ‘significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-arthritic effects’.

They added that the findings ‘reinforce the traditional use of alternanthera littoralis and underscore its potential as a therapeutic candidate for the management of inflammatory conditions’.

However, the research remains at a very early stage. The findings are based solely on animal experiments, and researchers say further studies would be needed before any trials in people could begin.

Professor Philip Conaghan said: ‘It is simply too early to say whether this will prove effective in patients.’