Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

New Osteoporosis Drug Under FDA Scrutiny

A new drug for treating osteoporosis is up for approval by the FDA. An advisory panel of experts has recommended that denosumab, a biotech compound made by Amgen, be approved for treating postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. These are the people who are at greatest risk for fractures. A new study shows that denosumab injected twice a year cut the rate of fractures of the vertebrae from about 7 percent to just over 2 percent, a relative risk reduction of 68 percent.
The panel did not recommend that the drug be used in treating cancer patients whose treatment has weakened their bones, although a study in The New England Journal of Medicine shows that denosumab increased bone mineral density and decreased spinal fractures in men being treated for prostate cancer. The advisory panel is concerned about an increased risk of infection and cancer among patients given denosumab. If the FDA approves the drug, it will become available under the brand name Prolia.
[New England Journal of Medicine, Aug. 20, 2009]

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
0- 0 ratings
About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.