Drug has AFL stars winning pain game

ONE of the AFL’s biggest stars is among up to 50 players being injected with a breakthrough pain treatment yet to be made available to the public.

The claimed wonder drug – Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium – is injected into the body twice a week for six weeks and, despite remaining in a clinical trial phase, is credited with eliminating crippling knee, hip and groin pain.

The star, from a non-Victorian club, has been battling complications from a knee injury and was in doubt of lining up in Round 1 until he began using the drug in late February.

The club’s football boss last night said it would be inappropriate to discuss the player’s private medical treatment.

Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium has been used for decades to treat blood clots and painful bladder syndrome in women but only recently emerged as a treatment option for osteoarthritis, caused by the breakdown of cartilage.

Carlton is one of six other AFL clubs using the substance on injured players.

The drug has been patented by Melbourne company Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals and is sourced from Germany.

Paradigm chief executive Paul Rennie said club doctors had been given approval to use the drug by AFL chief medical officer Peter Harcourt.

Approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Canberra under a “special access scheme” was also granted.

Rennie revealed six AFL players suffering from osteitis pubis were treated with Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium over the off-season.

“They all went from pain scores of six or seven out of 10 to zero,” he said.

“It was completely resolved. There’s no doubt it works and the AFL doctors who have used it love it.”

Asked how many current AFL players were using the drug, Rennie said: “I think we would be pushing 40 to 50 at seven clubs.”