subject: There May Be A Cure For Back Pain - Its Name is rhGDF-5 [print this page] Is rhGDF-5 a cure for back pain? If you are suffering from back pain as a result of degenerative disc disease then your options are limited. There is no known cure for degenerative disc disease. Most sufferers are prescribed anti-inflammatories, pain killers and physiotherapy. Surgery is a drastic, last option and even then success rates aren't great.
While the alternative therapists like chiropractors, naturopaths, homeopaths and acupuncturists are busy selling false hope to people whose suffering has made them vulnerable, the true heroes - the research scientists and specialist doctors of this world are quietly working behind the scenes to find a cure for degenerative disc disease.
Here's the exciting part - after years of research, they may be on to something. Biofarm GmbH (www.biopharm.de) in Germany has discovered rhGDF-5, a growth and differentiation factor. This discovery has been licensed to DePuy Spine (www.depuyspine.com) which is owned by Johnson & Johnson (www.jnj.com). rhGDF-5 is known to influence the growth and differentiation of various tissues, including the intervertebral disc.
This discovery is potentially game changing. If rhGDF-5 is injected into a degenerated disc, then maybe, just maybe the disc will grow back and/or the pain will go away.
At first rhGDF-5 was injected into the intervertebral discs of rabbits. The results were extraordinary in that the rabbits' discs grew back. However, the test was limited in that it couldn't show whether or not the rabbits experienced a reduction in pain AND the the rabbits' discs had been artificially degenerated in the first place. Would rhGDF-5 work to regrow (rehydrate) naturally degenerated human intervertebral discs?
In May 2009 trials started across the USA (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01124006). In May 2010 trials started in Australia (www.spineservice.com.au).
The results from these trials will not be published for some time. However, anecdotal evidence from those back pain sufferers who have been injected with rhGDF-5 is very promising.
This is just one branch of a very exciting area of research - regenerative medicines. If rhGDF-5 works, it will significantly improve the lives of millions of back pain sufferers around the globe.
There May Be A Cure For Back Pain - Its Name is rhGDF-5
