Genzyme received approval from the FDA for Synvisc-One (hylan G-F 20), for the relief of pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Synvisc-One is the only single-injection viscosupplement approved for the treatment of OA knee pain in the U.S.

“In just one visit to the doctor’s office, patients suffering from osteoarthritis may experience clinically significant pain relief for up to six months and for some patients this pain relief could potentially translate into a delay in the need for a total knee replacement,” said Jack M. Bert, M.D., president of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and adjunct clinical professor at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine. “This single injection regimen will provide greater physician and patient convenience.”

Synvisc-One is an alternative treatment regimen to Genzyme’s Synvisc (hylan G-F 20), a three-injection viscosupplement. Viscosupplementation is a procedure in which hyaluronic acid or a derivative such as hylan G-F 20 is injected into the knee joint to replace synovial fluid that typically becomes degraded in patients with osteoarthritis. In synovial fluid, hyaluronic acid relieves pain and improves the knee joint’s natural shock absorbing abilities.