Musculoskeletal Disorders
Understanding Musculoskeletal Disorders
Musculoskeletal and related disorders affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide and are among the leading causes of disability and reduced quality of life. These disorders include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, chronic back pain, and other degenerative or inflammatory conditions – many of which have limited treatment options and high unmet need.
As populations age and the burden of these disorders grows, the demand for new and effective therapies is accelerating. But advancing treatments in this field requires more than operational support – it demands deep therapeutic understanding, scientific precision, and a partner who knows the complexities inside and out.
And that’s where NBCD comes in.
In musculoskeletal clinical research, you need deep expertise. At NBCD, it’s all we do.
NBCD
Leading the Way
At NBCD, musculoskeletal clinical research is all we do. We specialize in the design and execution of clinical trials for musculoskeletal disorders, bringing together decades of experience, scientific leadership, and operational excellence.
We help sponsors navigate the complexity of the trials, and deliver high-quality, efficient studies – whether you’re developing symptom relief, DMOADs and whether your investigational product is an advanced gene therapy, a small molecule, or a medical device.
Key Indications
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Chronic Pain
- Obesity
Navigating the Complexity
Clinical trials for musculoskeletal disorders come with a unique set of challenges – from slow disease progression and placebo response to regulatory uncertainty and long timelines. Designing effective, efficient studies requires both scientific depth and operational precision.
Common barriers include:
- Subtle and slow disease progression that makes efficacy harder to demonstrate
- Ambiguity and uncertainty around disease-modifying claims and imaging endpoints
- Patient heterogeneity and complex inclusion criteria
- High variability in the most important patient outcomes
- Recruitment challenges, particularly for early-stage patients
- Pressure to meet timelines and fixed-budget expectations
NBCD addresses these complexities with tailored strategies, ensuring efficient and effective trial execution. We work closely with sponsors – combining indication-specific trial design, risk-based monitoring, and deep therapeutic expertise to drive better outcomes.
Osteoarthritis
A Global Burden
Osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal disorder, affecting over 500 million people worldwide. As a progressive, painful condition with no current cure, it remains one of the most urgent areas in clinical research.
NBCD is the most experienced CRO in osteoarthritis clinical development – having conducted more OA trials than any other CRO globally. We bring unmatched knowledge of endpoints, symptoms and how to measure them, trial methodology, imaging, biomarkers, and regulatory expectations – ensuring every study is designed for success and impact.