This file photo shows pet dogs on a walk in Myeongdong, downtown Seoul, on Jan. 31, 2021. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — A new drug for treatment of dog dementia developed by a local pharmaceutical company has received government approval.
This is the first time in South Korea that a drug for treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction has been approved by the animal quarantine agency.
GNT Pharma Co. recently announced that its new drug for treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, called crisdesalazine (GedaCure Chewable Tablet), was approved by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency.
About 22.5 percent of dogs older than nine years of age show dementia symptoms, and have difficulty recognizing their owners and family members.
Crisdesalazine is a multi-target drug designed to suppress both active oxygen and inflammation that lead to the death of brain cells and the creation of amyloid plaque, thereby causing Alzheimer’s disease.
The phase two clinical trials, conducted in 2018 by six medical institutions including Seoul National University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, tested crisdesalazine on six dogs with an age of 14 years and older who were diagnosed as having dementia over a period of eight weeks .
After eight weeks of oral administration of crisdesalazine, all of the dogs saw their cognitive function and activity improve back to normal.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
