Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease, causing pain and limitations in physical functioning. Although current treatments can sometimes relieve symptoms, they do not slow down the progression of the disease. New treatment options are therefore needed, but developing new drugs is a long and costly process. This thesis investigated whether drug repurposing could provide a valuable addition to osteoarthritis treatment. The research showed that over 50 drugs have already been investigated for osteoarthritis. Colchicine, a drug normally used for gout, is one example. Our findings indicate that long-term use is associated with a lower risk of knee or hip replacement, and consistent, recent use appeared linked to a reduced risk of being diagnosed with knee or hip osteoarthritis. Whether such treatments can be applied in practice, however, depends on rapid approval by regulatory authorities, the costs to society, reimbursement through basic health insurance, and monitoring of efficacy, safety, and dosage according to patients.
Michelle Heijman (1998) obtained her Master’s degree in Applied Biomedical Sciences, magna cum laude, from the Catholic University of Leuven in 2021. In the same year, she started her PhD research at the Sint Maartenskliniek. She is currently working as an advisor at the knowledge institute of the Dutch Federation of Medical Specialists.