New Knee Arthritis Injections on the Horizon: What’s Real So Far

Patients bring me headlines about new knee injections all the time. Some of this research is genuinely interesting, and I follow it closely. Here’s where each one stands as of October 2026, in plain terms.

The short answer

None of these injections are FDA approved for knee arthritis, and none are available in the U.S. outside a clinical trial. One has been submitted to the FDA; the rest are still being studied. Meanwhile, there are proven treatments I can offer you today, including PRP.

Lorecivivint

Lorecivivint, from Biosplice, is a drug injected into the knee once or twice a year. It acts on signaling pathways inside the joint that are involved in cartilage health, and it’s being studied as a possible disease-modifying treatment, meaning one that changes the course of arthritis rather than just easing pain.

• Status: the company announced in January 2026 that it had submitted an application to the FDA. It is not approved as of October 2026.
• Earlier trials: two Phase 3 trials did not show a pain benefit over placebo at 12 weeks. In one, pain scores dropped by 2.2 points with lorecivivint and 2.6 points with placebo.
• Later trial: the company reports that a two-year Phase 3 trial showed better pain and function than placebo at 12 months, and less narrowing of the joint space on X-ray.

That mix is why the FDA’s review will matter. If it’s approved, the key questions will be how much it helps, for whom, and for how long.

Arthrosamid (polyacrylamide hydrogel)

Arthrosamid is a soft gel, about 97% water, injected into the knee once. It’s designed to settle into the joint lining and cushion the knee. It was developed in Denmark and is sold in Europe and the U.K.

• Status: not FDA approved. In the U.S. it is investigational and available only in clinical trials.
• What the trial showed: in a randomized trial of 239 patients in Denmark, one Arthrosamid injection was compared with one hyaluronic acid (gel) injection. Both groups improved, and the difference between them was not significant.

It isn’t the viral “German gel,” which is a different product placed during surgery. I cover that one in can you regrow cartilage in your knee or hip? If you’re interested in a gel for your knee, a hyaluronic acid injection is available today.

A GLP-1 shot for the knee (4P004)

You’ve heard of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Zepbound for weight loss. A company called 4Moving Biotech is testing a GLP-1 drug, 4P004, designed to be injected directly into the knee to calm inflammation in the joint lining.

• Status: FDA Fast Track designation in April 2026. Fast Track speeds up the review process; it isn’t an approval.
• Trial: a placebo-controlled Phase 2a trial of a single injection is under way, with results expected in 2027. There are no effectiveness results yet.

For what GLP-1 weight-loss medications can and can’t do for joint pain today, see GLP-1 medications and arthritis pain.

Gene therapy (GNSC-001)

GNSC-001, from Genascence, is a one-time knee injection that delivers a gene so the joint makes its own supply of a protein that blocks interleukin-1, a key driver of inflammation in arthritis.

• Status: the FDA granted it a Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation in July 2025, which also speeds up the process. It is not approved.
• Trial: an early trial in 67 patients found it safe and showed the joint was making the protein. It was not designed to prove it relieves pain. A larger trial was planned to start in 2026.

How to read the headlines

• “Fast Track” or “breakthrough” isn’t approval. These designations speed up review. Many treatments that get them never reach the market.
• Look for the placebo group. In knee arthritis trials, patients who get a placebo shot often improve a lot too. A treatment has to beat that.
• Company announcements come first. Results in a press release haven’t been through full peer review yet.
• Approval comes before availability. Even after approval, it takes time for a treatment to reach offices and for insurance to cover it.

Want something beyond cortisone and gel? Ask about PRP

Many people searching for new knee injections are really asking: is there something beyond cortisone and gel? There is, and it’s available today. PRP (platelet-rich plasma) uses a concentrate of your own blood to calm the inflammation that drives much of arthritis pain, and I do it right in my office.

• Best fit: active patients with mild-to-moderate knee arthritis who want to stay moving.
• Gradual relief: most patients notice improvement over about 2 to 6 weeks.
• Lasts longer in the right patient: when it works, the benefit often lasts several months up to a year.
• Out of pocket: PRP isn’t covered by insurance, but it is eligible for FSA and HSA funds.

PRP won’t regrow cartilage, and I’ll tell you honestly whether your knee is the kind it tends to help. If your knee is bone-on-bone, a replacement is usually my best recommendation, but if you’re not ready for surgery, we can try PRP.

What I can do for your knee today

Every plan starts with an exam and X-rays, so we know what’s actually going on. From there, I follow a step-by-step approach:

1. Start simple: physical therapy, medication, a brace, and activity changes.
2. Injections available now: cortisone, gel, or PRP.
3. Replacement when it’s time: a partial or total knee replacement, when arthritis still limits your life.

For the full list of options, including the newer ones you may be reading about, see alternatives to knee replacement.

This article is general education, current as of October 2026. It isn’t advice about your specific knee.