Zoledronic acid effective for osteoporosis

8th International Symposium on Osteoporosis

A single injection of zoledronic acid was an effective prevention strategy for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, particularly to increase bone mineral density and reduce bone turnover, according to findings from the Horizon Prevention Study.

The study evaluated the efficacy of two zoledronic acid regimens in 531 postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Women were randomly assigned a 5-mg zoledronic acid injection (Reclast, Novartis) at baseline and one year, 5 mg zoledronic acid at baseline and placebo at one year or placebo at both baseline and one year.

The findings were presented at the 8th Annual National Osteoporosis Foundation-sponsored International Symposium on Osteoporosis, held in Washington, D.C.

After two years, both zoledronic acid treatment regimens increased BMD at the lumbar spine compared with placebo (P<.0001). The mean percentage of change was 5.31% for the baseline and one year regimen, 4.55% for the baseline only regimen and –1.19% for the placebo regimen.

Compared with placebo, both zoledronic acid regimens increased BMD at lumbar spine at one year, and increased BMD at total hip, femoral neck and trochanter at one and two years (P<.0001).

Improvements in bone turnover markers were observed with both zoledronic acid regimens. During the second year, zoledronic acid administered at baseline and one year was associated with greater reductions than zoledronic acid administered at baseline only.

The incidence of adverse events, including fever and muscle pain reported in the first three days post-infusion, was comparable in all groups, according to the researchers.

For more information:

McClung MR. Presented at: the 8th International Symposium on Osteoporosis; April 1-5, 2009; Washington, D.C.