Efficacy and safety of tanezumab administered as a fixed dosing regimen in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled phase III trials

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tanezumab administered as a fixed dosing regimen in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis. Randomized controlled phase III trials (RCTs) that evaluated the efficacy and safety associated with tanezumab for knee or hip OA were systematically identified by searching electronic databases, including Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase, for 30 years from December 1990 up to July 2020. Ten relevant studies were included in our meta-analysis. The research was reported based on the preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to ensure the reliability and verity of results. Our study showed that the tanezumab groups were more effective than the placebo groups in terms of mean change from the baseline in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain ( P < .00001), WOMAC physical functional ( P < .00001), and patient’s global assessment (PGA) ( P < .00001). Discontinued due to adverse events (AEs) ( P < .00001), serious AEs ( P = .02), abnormal peripheral sensations (both P < .00001), and peripheral neuropathy ( P < .002) in tanezumab groups were significantly higher than that in control groups. Compared with placebo, tanezumab can effectively relieve pain and improve WOMAC physical function and patient’s global assessment (PGA) in knee and hip osteoarthritis. Meanwhile, adverse events are transient in nature and generally well-tolerated. However, we still need large-sample, high-quality studies to investigate the long-term safety of tanezumab to give the conclusion.