Oxaceprol, good alternative to NSAIDs for osteoarthritis patients

Bengaluru, India: Oxaceprol may be a good alternative to commonly prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for the long-term management of osteoarthritis (OA), imply results from a latest systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal Pharmacological Reports. Oxaceprol has similar efficacy and better safety and tolerability compared with NSAIDs.

Sharanbasappa Durg, Real World Evidence, Molecular Connections (P) Ltd., Basavanagudi, Bengaluru, India, and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of 7 randomised controlled trials (RCTs; n=1087) to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of oxaceprol (200 or 400 mg; three times in a day [tid]) monotherapy or in combination compared with active control group such as NSAIDs (diclofenac or ibuprofen) or placebo for varying durations (20-152 days). They then assessed pain and function of joint, quality of life, efficacy, safety, and tolerability.

"Given the nature of small-to-moderate sample size and short duration of eligible studies, the available clinical evidence of oxaceprol in the management of OA is modest – though looks promising," write the authors.