Sustained-relief for shoulder stiffness using injectable relaxin therapy
Official title: Late Stage Development of Sustained-release Relaxin for Treating Joint Contracture
Funded at Ortholevo, INC. · NIH-11377370 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new injectable therapy uses a slow-release Relaxin-2 formulation to reduce scar tissue and improve shoulder motion for people with arthrofibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ortholevo, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lynnfield, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 6, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $490,333 |
| NIH project number | 5SB1AR084380-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377370 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with shoulder arthrofibrosis or severe shoulder stiffness who have insufficient relief from standard treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without shoulder joint stiffness or with conditions not related to arthrofibrosis may not benefit.
What this research studies
Shoulder arthrofibrosis causes painful, limited movement after injury or surgery. This grant funds development of a local injectable microparticle system that slowly releases Relaxin-2 to modulate collagen and matrix remodeling in the shoulder. The goal is to provide longer-lasting relief with fewer procedures than current treatments. The approach targets the underlying tissue changes rather than just symptoms, with a goal of a first‑in‑class therapy for this condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better shoulder movement and less need for additional surgeries or interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in similar fibrotic conditions suggests that targeted peptide therapies can alter tissue remodeling, but this specific approach is novel for shoulder arthrofibrosis.
Where this research is happening
-
Ortholevo, INC.
Lynnfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cooper, Benjamin Goldman — Ortholevo, INC.
- Study coordinator: Cooper, Benjamin Goldman
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving stiff joints with sustained-release relaxin
This project is exploring a new long-lasting medication to help people with stiff and painful shoulders.
-
Developing a new treatment for painful shoulder stiffness
This study is testing a new injectable treatment using a hormone called relaxin-2 to help people with shoulder contracture, a condition that causes painful stiffness and limits movement, with the hope of improving their shoulder mobility and overall quality of life.
-
Using relaxin to treat frozen shoulder
This study is testing a new injection treatment for frozen shoulder that uses a natural hormone to help ease pain and stiffness, aiming to improve your shoulder movement and overall quality of life.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.