March 14, 2007

Once-yearly bisphosphonate being studied

Clinical trials are currently underway in Canada to assess the potential of a once-yearly medication which may aid in the treatment of osteoporosis in men, postmenopausal women, and patients with corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis.

Aclasta®, a bisphosphonate administered intravenously in a 5 mg dosage once a year, was approved in Canada in 2005 for the treatment of Paget’s disease.

The active ingredient of Aclasta® is zoledronic acid. "Studies conducted in the U.S. indicate that the drug is effective in reducing the incidence of hip, spine and non-spinal fractures," said Dr. Jacques P. Brown, Rheumatologist with the Rheumatology & Bone Diseases Research Group in Québec City. He also notes that "a small percentage of people experienced headaches, pain and fatigue at first, but these side effects subsided."

To date, over 13,000 individuals have participated in studies with Aclasta in over 400 centres worldwide.

The drug has not yet been approved in Canada for the treatment of osteoporosis.