Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX:PAR) is witnessing a growing number of elite sportspeople being successfully treated by doctors with pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) for osteoarthritis.
Paradigm is focused on repurposing PPS, an FDA-approved drug that has a long track record of safely treating inflammation.
The treatment of the past and present elite sportspeople is under the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) Special Access Scheme (SAS), demonstrating the unmet medical need in treating the condition.
The company is repurposing PPS for a number of applications with a focus on the treatment of orthopaedic and viral arthritic indications.
Sportspeople are at a much higher risk of developing osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) affects in excess of 30 million people in the U.S. alone, which is expected to rise significantly with an ageing population, representing a blockbuster opportunity for Paradigm.
Sports which involve running, pivoting, twisting and turning such as football, rugby, soccer and basketball put participants at a higher risk of developing OA compared to the general population.
Therefore, sportspeople are at a much higher risk of developing OA, especially at earlier stages in life.
The drug is non-addictive and free of debilitating side effects
PPS is neither a steroid nor opioid, allowing for its approval in professional sports and more importantly, it is non-addictive and free of debilitating side effects.
OA affects as much as 13% of the world’s population with more than 75% of patients reporting the need for additional symptomatic treatment.
READ: Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals ahead of schedule with trials
In 2018, Paradigm’s arthritis program will be reporting on two phase II randomised double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials investigating PPS in treating arthritis.
Paradigm will also be continually reporting on real world evidence of people with OA being treated with PPS.