Cartrophen Vet (100mg/mL of pentosan polysulfate sodium or PPS) is a treatment for osteoarthritis (OA, also known as degenerative joint disease or DJD) and related musculoskeletal disorders in dogs and horses. It provides pain relief by acting on the pathology within the joint that causes pain and lameness. Cartrophen Vet has many sites of action within the underlying processes of the arthritis disease which helps maintain joint health including preserving joint cartilage. It is therefore classified as a disease modifying osteoarthritis drug (DMOAD).

Cartrophen Vet is a prescription only, injectable, polysulfated polysaccharide of plant origin.

Cartrophen Vet will benefit acute through to chronic OA due to the progressive nature of this disease. Early intervention with Cartrophen Vet in acute injuries will maximise the restoration of normal connective tissue function.

With 20% of dogs over one year of age suffering from OA and 60% of lameness in the horse related to OA, Cartrophen Vet and DMOAD represent the rational approach to the medical treatment of OA.

The effective dosing and dosage regimen is discussed in ‘Dosage & Usage’

How does Cartrophen Vet work?

Cartrophen Vet is a treatment, which has activity that works to correct the underlying metabolism of the OA. By re-balancing the metabolic processes it preserves joint health and subsequently provides relief from the clinical signs of OA. Cartrophen Vet’s changes to the disease are evident in its long-term effects. Benefits are received well beyond the treatment period of 4 weeks with repeat treatments in some cases at one-year intervals. Cartrophen Vet has shown to be effective in 80% of dogs treated, further discussed in ‘Safety&Efficacy‘.

Cartrophen Vet has been shown to exhibit the following modes of action:

1. Stimulates cartilage production – Stimulates chondrocytes to synthesize cartilage matrix
2. Improves the quantity and quality of synovial fluid – Stimulates synoviocyte biosynthesis of hyaluronan, improving both the quantity and molecular weight
3. Stimulates stem cell activity and cartilage cell differentiation – Promotes Mesenchymal precursor cell (MPC) proliferation and cartilage cell differentiation. Importantly, this is relevant with the frequency of MPCs elevated in arthritic cartilage
4. Increased blood supply and nutrition to the joint and subchondral bone – Mobilizes thrombi and fibrin deposits, lipids and cholesterol in synovial tissues and subchondral blood vessels in order to allow increased blood flow to key areas of the synovial joint.
5. Strong anti-inflammatory properties – The potent anti-inflammatory activities of PPS have been consistently demonstrated in different models of severe inflammation
6. Inhibits cartilage degrading enzymes – The collagenase catabolic enzyme is inhibited by the stimulation of tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase
7. Increased production of free radical scavenging enzymes – Stimulates free radical scavenging enzymes superoxide dismutase and lipase
8. Stimulates important growth factors that promote cartilage growth – Increases the production of the essential trophic factor for cartilage, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which stimulates incorporation of sulfate and encourages cartilage growth
9. Affinity for cartilage – The strong binding of the drug to cartilage protein results in therapeutic concentrations for up to 4 days (Data on file Biopharm Australia Pty Ltd)
10. Inhibits and modulates a range of noxious substances – such as pro-inflammatory mediators, bio-active amines such as: histamine, serotonin, superoxide free radical, enzymes such as elastase, hyaluronidase, cathepsins, THF-α converting enzyme (TACE) and proteins of the complement system which are implicated in the degradation of the cartilage matrix components

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