The safety and efficacy of Guluronic acid (G2013) in ankylosing spondylitis: A randomized controlled parallel clinical trial

Background: To assess the therapeutic efficacy, safety and tolerability of Guluronic acid (G2013) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

Methods: This investigation was a 12-week randomized, placebo-controlled, phase I/II clinical trial involving 75 AS patients that were randomly divided into 3 groups: 25 as placebo, 25 Guluronic acid and 25 naproxen groups. Patients who had AS with active disease at baseline according to the modified New York criteria were considered for this trial. The primary consequence measure was the Appraisement of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) 20 response-rate at week 12.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences between groups at the entry. ASAS20 response at week 12 was achieved (60.8%) in patients receiving Guluronic acid compared with - (68.4% of) - patients in the naproxen group (p > 0.05) and (21.0%) of patients in the placebo group. In comparison with the placebo group from the baseline to week 12, patients who received Guluronic acid and naproxen showed significantly greater improvement in all secondary endpoints. Moreover, Guluronic acid decreased some inflammatory parameters more dramatically than naproxen and placebo group. Patients in the naproxen group had more incidence of gastrointestinal and Others adverse events in comparison with Guluronic acid and placebo groups.

Conclusion: The present research indicated that Guluronic acid and naproxen are similar in terms of efficacy. However, Guluronic acid had more notable safety characteristics identifying information than naproxen. Accordingly, it is proposed that Guluronic acid could be appropriate for management of AS. Clinical trial identifier; IRCT2016091813739N4.