Palovarotene effectively inhibits post-traumatic chondrogenesis and osteogenesis, along with mitigating trauma-induced ectopic bone formation. Administered orally at 1 mg/kg/day for 14 days, starting either on post-operative day (POD) 1 or POD-5, palovarotene significantly inhibits subcutaneous and intramuscular heterotopic ossification (HO) in mice. Assessment for up to 84 days post-injury demonstrates a 50 to 60% reduction in HO regardless of treatment initiation time or the presence of infection, compared to vehicle-control animals ^[1].

In Acvr1cR206H/⁺ mice, palovarotene treatment for 14 days via daily gavage starting from day 1 of injury significantly diminishes HO formation by over 80% based on bone volume/total volume quantification, compared to mice receiving vehicle as control [2].