A multicentre clinical study of the efficacy of sodium pentosan polysulfate and carprofen in canine osteoarthritis (osteoarthrosis)

One hundred and four dogs diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) were enrolled in a multi-centre, doubleblind, comparator controlled, randomised clinical study in Germany to establish the effectiveness of the disease modifying anti-osteoarthritic drug, sodium pentosan polysulfate (NaPPS marketed as CARTROPHEN VET) compared to the non steroidal anti-inflammatory control drug carprofen (Rimadyl, Zenecarp) in treating the clinical signs of OA. Efficacy was assessed by a reduction in the clinical signs of OA, namely lameness and pain on manipulation by the veterinarian during treatment (Weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4) and four weeks after treatment had ceased (Week 8). Four weekly subcutaneous injections of NaPPS at 3mg/kg by the subcutaneous route and four week daily oral administration of carprofen at 4mg/kg were found to be effective in treating OA with significant improvements in all primary outcome parameters i.e. lameness, pain and orthopaedic score (p<0.05). NaPPS maintained its effectiveness longer than carprofen with significant improvement following NaPPS treatment compared to carprofen treatment in orthopaedic score at Week 8 (p=0.013).