Glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex in the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis: from the past to the future

Abstract

The glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex (GPC) Rumalon is a popular injectable drug used to treat osteoarthritis (OA). GPC was one of the world’s first drugs designed for the pharmacotherapy of this disease. The drug has been rigorously tested for efficacy and safety in a series of international placebo-controlled randomized trials. Most of them showed the good therapeutic potential of GPC. Several open-labelled studies have recently been underway in Russia, confirming the ability of GPC to significantly reduce the intensity of pain and to improve function in patients with knee OA and chronic nonspecific back pain. All investigations of GPC demonstrated its good tolerance and the absence of serious complications, as well as when this medication was used for a long time.