condoliase

Condoliase is a recombinant enzyme derived from the Gram-negative bacterium Proteus vulgaris, classified as a mucopolysaccharidase. It specifically degrades glycosaminoglycans—primarily chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid—in the nucleus pulposus of intervertebral discs, leading to reduction in disc volume and alleviation of nerve root compression. This mechanism underlies its use as an intradiscal injection for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH), aiming to relieve radicular leg pain and associated symptoms. Condoliase is considered less damaging to surrounding tissues compared to earlier enzymatic treatments like chymopapain due to its substrate specificity. It was first approved in Japan in 2018 for LDH and has demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials with a favorable safety profile[1][4][5][6][7].

Brand names

Hernicore

Other names

chondroitinase ABCchondroitin-sulfate-ABC endolyasechondroitin lyases