New therapeutic use of a group of sulfated polysaccharides.

New therapeutic use of a group of sulfated polysaccharides. The present invention relates to the use of a sulphated polysaccharide in acid form or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof selected from the group consisting of sulfate inulin, gellan sulphate, pullulan sulphate, curdlan sulphate, alginic acid sulphate, sulphate laminarin sulfate and pectin for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prophylaxis of osteoarthritis in a mammal. Preferably the sulphated polysaccharide is inulin sulphate, most preferably inulin polysulphate sodium. The present invention also relates to the use of a sulphated oligosaccharide derived from a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of inulin, gellan, pullulan, curdlan, alginic acid, laminarin, and pectin for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment or prophylaxis of arthrosis in a mammal.