Efficacy and safety of enflicoxib for treatment of canine osteoarthritis: A 6-week randomised, controlled, blind, multicentre clinical trial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nEnflicoxib is a new COX-2 selective NSAID intended for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with canine osteoarthritis.\n\n\nMETHODS\nA prospective, multisite, blinded, randomised, controlled, parallel-group field study was performed to determine the efficacy and safety of enflicoxib in canine osteoarthritis. A total of 242 dogs were randomised to receive enflicoxib at 4 or 2\xa0mg/kg, mavacoxib at 2\xa0mg/kg or placebo, orally. Enflicoxib and placebo were administered once weekly from day 0 to day 35. Mavacoxib was administered on D0 and day 14. Veterinarians assessed efficacy with a numerical rating scale and owners used the Canine Brief Pain Inventory.\n\n\nRESULTS\nAfter 6 weeks, enflicoxib at 4\xa0mg/kg showed the highest percentage of responders as assessed by the veterinarians (68%) and the owners (84%), followed by mavacoxib (62and 83%, respectively), and enflicoxib at 2\xa0mg/kg (57 and 80%, respectively). All treatments reached statistical significance versus placebo, which obtained success rates of 37% and 53%, respectively. No differences in the incidence of adverse reactions were detected among the different groups.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nEnflicoxib administered weekly for 6 weeks, at 4\xa0mg/kg PO with an initial loading dose of 8\xa0mg/kg, is efficacious and safe for the treatment of canine osteoarthritis.