What if arthritis isn’t simply your joints wearing out? We’re going inside the science of cartilage and meeting the researchers taking a very different approach to one of the world’s most common diseases.

For millions of people living with osteoarthritis, aching joints and declining mobility are often accepted as an inevitable part of getting older. But researchers are increasingly looking beyond the traditional idea of simple “wear and tear” to understand the complex biological processes occurring inside an osteoarthritic joint.

In this segment of Health Uncensored, Dr. Drew sits down with orthopedic surgeon and Cytonics founder Dr. Gaetano “Guy” Scuderi and CEO Joey Bose to explore the role destructive enzymes known as proteases can play in cartilage degradation. Dr. Scuderi explains how his research led to alpha-2-macroglobulin, or A2M, a naturally occurring protein with a remarkable ability to trap and neutralize multiple proteases, and how that discovery ultimately inspired a new avenue of osteoarthritis research. 

The conversation also explores the unusual way Cytonics has financed its journey. Rather than relying primarily on traditional venture capital, the company has turned to equity crowdfunding and individual investors—including many people personally affected by osteoarthritis. It’s a look at both the science of rethinking joint disease and the community helping move that research forward, while recognizing the significant uncertainty inherent in both investigational drug development and private biotechnology investing.