FDA Approves New Drug for Canine Osteoarthritis

As dogs live longer lives there has been an increase in incidence of painful chronic conditions like osteoarthritis. Pain killing drugs are almost always part of the treatment for this condition, if not at the beginning then as it progresses.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Galliprant (grapiprant tablets) for pain management in dogs.

While there are other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the market like meloxicam and deracoxib, Aratana Therapeutics, who developed the drug, state that “Galliprant is a first-in-class non-cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibiting, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in the piprant class.”

Piprants are a newly recognized drug class.

Aratana goes on to say that, “using a new mechanism of action, this therapeutic directly blocks one of the key receptors involved in pain and inflammation — the EP4 prostaglandin receptor.”

Aratana hopes to market it based on data showing both effectiveness and a lack of dangerous side effects like gastrointestinal bleeding.

CEO Steven St. Peter is confident Aratana's new drug will be able to grab significant market share. "As the first approved product in the new piprant class, Galliprant offers veterinarians a needed therapeutic option for the millions of dogs treated each year for osteoarthritis," St. Peter said in the press release announcing the FDA approval.

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD), is defined as the progressive and permanent long-term deterioration of the cartilage surrounding the joints. Arthritis is the medical term for inflammation of the joints.