NANO MRNA (TYO:4571) said its Australian unit, PrimRNA AU, has submitted a Phase 1 clinical trial plan for its mRNA-based osteoarthritis drug RUNX1 mRNA to the Human Research Ethics Committees, according to a Tuesday filing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The trial targets patients with severe knee osteoarthritis undergoing joint replacement surgery and will assess safety, tolerability, and biomarker expression following intra-articular administration.

Approval from the committee is expected in about six weeks, with trial initiation to follow.

RUNX1 mRNA encodes a transcription factor that promotes cartilage regeneration, aiming to modify the disease rather than just relieve pain.