A sterile injectable aqueous formulation in the form of a gel made up of hyaluronic acid or a salt thereof and one or more polyols is provided. The gel formulation can be applied to the intra-articular area in the treatment of joint degeneration and osteoarthritis. The gel formulation has a rheology similar to that of synovial liquid and has an elevated resistance to degradation due to the synergistic action between the hyaluronic acid and the polyols.