A new drug that helps prevent bone fractures in women – and increases bone density by stimulating the cells that make new bones – has been approved and will be available in England within the next three months.
Abaloparatide, which is sold as Eladynos and made by Theramex, could help more than 14 000 menopausal women in the country, according to the NHS.
Osteoporosis is linked to more than half a million fractures a year in Britain at a cost of more than £4.5bn, reports The Guardian, and until now, women with osteoporosis after menopause at very high risk of fracture have been treated with romosozumab or teriparatide, followed by bisphosphonates like alendronic acid. But not all patients respond to or can tolerate these drugs.
The new drug has been recommended for patients at high risk of bone fractures, and is administered via a pre-filled pen, which is injected at home once daily.
The Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS) welcomed the announcement by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Given the prevalence of bone fractures among women over 50 and the extent of disability caused by these breaks, the “paucity of new treatments over the past decade and a half has been a huge cause for concern”, said Craig Jones, chief executive of the ROS.
“The new treatment will change many thousands of lives for the better.”
However, menopause expert and campaigner Kate Muir said earlier intervention was needed. “It’s great that new drugs like abaloparatide are available, but this is shutting the door after the osteoporotic horse has bolted.”
Studies show hormone replacement therapy can increase bone density by up to 8% and reduce the risk of fractures, she said. “But this public health message is not getting out to women, who should be informed that body-identical transdermal HRT is much safer than previous forms, and it helps to keep bones healthy.”
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