By PIPER KLEMM
A staple of joint therapy in Europe, Asia, and Australia, Contura Vet has brought Arthramid to the United States as a joint injectable with staggering results.
“It’s an incredible product because the technology has been developed over the last 24 years with continuous, peer-reviewed published research, with more findings produced consistently over the years. The hydrogel has been used in horses in Europe for about 15 years, so while it is newer to the US market in the last couple years, it has already become the gold standard elsewhere for treating arthritis and managing joint health,” Michaela Arcaro, Vice President of Operations at Contura Vet, tells The Plaid Horse.
Expansive use of Arthramid has been powerful through veterinary recommendations and owners requesting to try the injections in their horses. Growth has been exponential with over 40,000 horses treated with Arthramid in 2023 all over the US and across all equestrian disciplines. This year should total another 70,000 additional horses treated in the USA and globally, over 1.5 million doses have gone into humans, dogs, and horses. And these are with many only requiring a single treatment to see targeted and sustained results.
Joint injections have seen significant advancements over the past generation of horses. Traditionally, these treatments relied on steroids and hyaluronic acid (HA). However, in recent years, the focus has shifted towards orthobiologics such as stem cells, PRP, Alpha2EQ, and iRAP. Distinct from these treatments, Arthramid presents a unique and innovative approach to managing joint disease differently. It works by forming a bio scaffold in the synovial tissue through the injection of a hydrogel, comprised of 2.5% polyacrylamide and 97.5% purified water (2.5 iPAAG). The process helps to restore the joint’s normal balance, significantly enhancing its overall function.
Arthramid is also unique in that it can be used on any synovial joint in a horse’s body. It can also be used in so many different horses – those early or in the prime of their career, those who have a light job, or those who want to be retired more comfortably in a field. All over the world, horses of all ages are living and performing more comfortably with injections of Arthramid.
Due to the nature of its targeted effect on the soft tissues of the joint, many horses see full resolution of symptoms after a single treatment and most horses require joint injections far less frequently than they do with more traditional injection compounds. When the synovium is healthy, the body can naturally manage inflammation and produce healthy joint fluid without the need for drugs.
With traditional compounds like steroids and HA, symptom relief is achieved pharmacologically—steroids temporarily reduce inflammation, and hyaluronic acid supplements poor or absent joint fluid. However, these treatments do not address the underlying issue: damage to the synovium. This can lead to ongoing synovitis, which, if left untreated, may develop into capsulitis and arthritis. Changes are typically only visible on radiographs at the arthritis stage. In contrast, Arthramid targets the root cause within the synovium rather than just alleviating symptoms. By creating a scaffold within synovium, Arthramid helps restore joint function, resulting in more sustained improvements in joint health and soundness. This approach often leads to a decreased need for routine joint injections.
Due to these effects, horses who might have plateaued in their careers suddenly find themselves advancing and being competitive at higher levels or at an older age than previously thought possible. When the joints are functioning properly, the whole body seems to greatly benefit. Treated horses have been reported to develop toplines they’ve previously struggled to develop, as well as increased hind end strength. It’s often reported that after treatment with Arthramid, riders feel “a different horse under me”.
While many pharmaceutical companies stop research as soon as a product is approved, Contura Vet has been committed to research and further development of Arthramid. New peer-reviewed articles have been published regularly in high-impact journals with rigorous double-blind scientific standards, and many more studies are on the way.
“We want to know as much as we can about our gel and provide our veterinarians and horse owners with supportive information and as much data they could possibly need,” says Arcaro. “Our job is to make pathways clear so that our horses get the best care possible.”
Benefits for Dogs
Arthramid is also labeled for use in dogs and a staggering 65% of dogs over the age of seven currently have arthritis or joint issues. For dogs older than ten years, this number can increase even further, affecting up to 80% of the population.
“People don’t necessarily recognize joint issues in dogs compared to horses – in the latter it is more apparent when they are off, whereas our dogs generally don’t need to perform at a certain level. So many dogs go without treatment for their joint problems. With Arthramid, dogs can be made more comfortable and can go from hobbling around the barn to easily climbing stairs, jumping into the back of your truck, or onto the couch again. When you treat your dog for arthritis, it’s like they get a new lease on life. They can go back to running around happily and playing with their tails wagging again,” says Arcaro.
Benefits for Humans
Arcaro has personal experience with the technology found in Arthramid — she has it injected in her own hip. The human product is known as Arthrosamid and is identical to Arthramid. “The bio scaffold works the exact same way in humans as it does in dogs and horses,” she says. Due to pathology in her own hip that had been previously managed with steroids, Arcaro had been increasingly uncomfortable and unable to ride or do daily tasks as the steroids became less effective.
During a trip to Denmark (Arthrosamid is not yet labeled for human use in the US), a doctor injected Arcaro’s hip with the hydrogel technology. She quickly saw the benefits and resolution of symptoms and has been able to start riding, working out in the gym again and is walking normally.
“My doctor told me after Christmas that I needed a hip replacement and now I’m working out five days a week lifting weights, riding, and I even have my eye on competing again. I have zero symptoms,” says Arcaro. “Part of why I believe in this product so much is all of the continued research, the effect I have seen on horses, and it is literally in my own body allowing me to participate and thrive again.”
Originally published in the July 2024 issue of The Plaid horse.
