Results show Protelos (Servier) slows progression of Osteoarthritis

New results of a Phase III study show that Protelos (strontium ranelate), from Servier, show the drug has beneficial effects for Osteoarthritis as well as offering beneficial effects on pain, function, and mobility. In the study, 1,683 patients with knee Osteoarthritis received either Protelos 2g/day, 1g/day or placebo. The primary endpoint was the measurement of narrowing of the medial-tibio femoral compartment of the target joint. At three years, results show that the space between the joints was 33% wider (less narrow) for patients receiving the 1g dose and 23% wider for those on 2g compared to placebo. The drug decreased the number of patients reaching >0.5mm loss of joint space, the level that leads to a fivefold increase in the risk of undergoing joint replacement surgery. For the 1g dose, the risk of reaching this threshold was reduced by 34%, and by 44% for the 2g dose. The results were presented by Jean-Yves Reginster from the University of Liege at the European Congress on Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis.