A randomized study to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of a single dose of the TRPV1 antagonist mavatrep in patients with osteoarthritis.

•First report of analgesic effect of a TRPV1 antagonist in a chronic pain condition.•Stair-climbing-pain model improved discrimination of active drug from placebo.•Mavatrep 50mg was more efficacious for pain reduction than naproxen 500mg.•Mavatrep improved WOMAC pain, stiffness, and function at 7 days after a single dose.•The safety profile of mavatrep was consistent with its mechanism (TRPV1 antagonist).