Merck wins approval for combined Fosamax Once Weekly treatment for Osteoporosis
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Merck & Co. Inc. said on Friday that U.S. regulators have approved a new version of its Fosamax osteoporosis treatment.
Merck said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Fosamax plus D, a single once-weekly tablet containing both Fosamax and vitamin D.
The new product significantly reduces the risk of hip and spine fractures from osteoporosis in post-menopausal women, the company said.
Alendronate boosts spinal BMD in HIV osteoporosis
Link to full text article:
"Alendronate, Vitamin D, and Calcium for the Treatment of Osteopenia/Osteoporosis Associated With HIV Infection"
JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
1 April 2005
http://www.natap.org/2005/HIV/032105_02.htm
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Alendronate significantly increases bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with HIV-associated osteopenia and osteoporosis, according to a report in the April 1st issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
Dr. Pablo Tebas of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and colleagues point out that osteopenia and osteoporosis are frequently associated with HIV infection and treatment, but the use of alendronate has not been studied systematically in HIV-infected patients.
To do so, the researchers studied 31 HIV-infected individuals with osteopenia or osteoporosis. They were randomized to receive or not to receive 70 mg of alendronate weekly. All were on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and all were also given calcium and vitamin D supplementation.
BMD increased significantly in both treatment groups, the researchers report, but the increase in lumbar spine BMD was significantly greater by week 48 in patients receiving alendronate (5.2%) than in those receiving calcium and vitamin D alone (1.3%).
"Given the results of our study," the authors conclude, "we think that alendronate is a safe, convenient, and effective option for treatment of osteopenia or osteoporosis in HIV-infected individuals on HAART."
However, larger studies are needed, and they stress the findings "should not be interpreted as a recommendation for treatment of all HIV-positive patients with osteopenia." That approach "should be consistent with standard national and international guidelines."
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2005;38:426-431
