New monoclonal antibody therapy reduces chronic low back pain

A large international study has demonstrated that tanezumab – a monoclonal antibody that inhibits nerve activity (NGF) – can provide long-term relief in patients with chronic low back pain. Certain proteins that circulate in the bloodstream are increasingly being reported to heighten the sensitivity of cells in the nervous system to pain. NGF is believed to be one of these proteins and could explain why some individuals experience more intense and chronic back pain. The study, which has been published in the journal Pain, was conducted in 191 sites across eight countries in North America, Europe and Asia. It is...