Chondrosulf is a highly purified chondroitin sulfate pharmaceutical preparation intended for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

The clinical effects of Chondrosulf exert a slow onset, up to 2 weeks, and are then sustained over time, even after the discontinuation of the administration (carry over effect). This clinical behaviour results in the current classification of Chondrosulf as a Symptomatic Slow Acting Drug for OsteoArthritis (SySADOA).

Differently from many food supplements claiming for chondroitin sulfate content, Chondrosulf is a unique pharmaceutical grade preparation and is also the product actually used in almost all the clinical trials with chondroitin published to date. This bulk of clinical information allowed the EULAR, in their “Recommendations 2003”, to rank Chondrosulf at the top for “Level of evidence” (1A) and for “Strength of recommendation” (A).

Thanks to the natural origin of chondroitin sulfate, the side effects of Chondrosulf are very rare, being their frequency in controlled clinical trials overlapping that recorded in the placebo controls.

The wide range of packages in the form of tablets, capsules or granulate in different strengths allows the patients to select the best convenient presentation for an improved compliance to the treatment.

One of the currents major goals of IBSA research and development is the official recognition of the role of Chondrosulf not only as a slow acting symptomatic therapy but also as a structure modifying osteoarthritis drug (SMOAD), i.e. to demonstrate that the long-term, continuous treatment with Chondrosulf may delay the progression of osteoarthritis by decreasing the rate of joint cartilage destruction, which occurs in the natural history of the disease.

Such an effect has been already shown in a long term, randomised, controlled clinical trial (Michel BA et al., Arthritis & Rheumatism 2005; 52(3): 779-786). In this study involving 300 patients, the radiographic-monitored progression of the knee-cartilage destruction over two years was decreased in the Chondrosulf group with statistically significant differences vs. placebo.

Similar results have been recorded in a more recent, larger confirmatory clinical trial that is now close to publication.

The product information included in this web page is intended as a general presentation of the product and should not be used as instruction for use. For full information please consult the summary of product characteristics as approved in your country.