Alendronate In Fracture Intervention

16 December 1996

The Fracture Intervention Trial, the largest randomized study to assess drug efficacy in reducing the incidence of osteoporotic fractures at all sites in post-menopausal women, has found that Merck Sharp & Dohme's bisphosphonate Fosamax (alendronate) is highly effective. Full results of the trial are published in The Lancet (December 7).

The three-year, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at 11 centers in the USA and involved 2,027 post-menopausal women with low bone mass and a history of spinal fracture. Patients initially received either 5mg of Fosamax or placebo. After two years this dose was increased to 10mg following the release of data from separate dose-ranging efficacy trials. Participants who had a dietary calcium intake of less than 1000mg per day (80% in both placebo- and Fosamax-treated groups) were also given calcium and vitamin D supplements.

Postitive Trial Results Findings showed that the incidence of hip fracture was reduced by 51%, new vertebral fracture by 47%, and wrist fracture by 48%. In addition, a 90% reduction of two or more spinal fractures, a 55% reduction in painful spinal fractures and a 34% reduction in height loss was noted in the treated group compared to placebo.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK



Companies featured in this story

More ones to watch >


Today's issue

Company Spotlight