Novartis and Nordic Biosciences have begun a Phase III clinical program of oral salmon calcitonin (SMC021) for the treatment of osteoarthritis, a chronic, irreversible and degenerative condition. SMC021 is a new drug candidate with potential to be the first disease-modifying drug for osteoarthritis. The salmon calcitonin is formulated in tablet form using a novel eligen delivery technology Emisphere Technologies. The delivery system creates the potential for salmon calcitonin to be available ...