Company Interview / A shot at rebuilding the world's worn-out joints

Paul Rennie, founder and managing director of Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals (ASX:PAR), outlines how the company is advancing its injectable therapy iPPS through a pivotal Phase 3 trial for knee osteoarthritis. Rennie states that osteoarthritis affects more than 500 million people globally and that the large majority remain dissatisfied with existing treatments, a gap he views as the core opportunity for a therapy that aims to do more than mask pain.

Rennie explains that iPPS has shown anti-inflammatory and cartilage-protective properties across multiple Phase 2 studies, and points to MRI and biomarker data that he says hint at disease-modifying effects beyond symptom relief. He notes the Phase 3 program carries FDA Fast Track designation and was refined through extensive engagement with the regulator, which he regards as de-risking the path toward approval.

Looking ahead, Rennie says the key near-term catalyst is a planned interim analysis, conducted once around half of patients reach the primary assessment point and expected around the middle of 2026, which he describes as the first look at whether the Phase 2 results hold at Phase 3 scale. He adds that Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals (ASX:PAR) is managing its funding carefully through this milestone, supported by a recent capital raising and R&D tax incentives, while remaining open to partnering discussions.

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