Amgen Pharmaceutical Company Planning Developing New Osteoporosis Drug
Amgen NASDAQ: AMGN pharmaceutical powerhouse just announced positive performance results for Pivotal Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Trial for denosumab.
Study met primary endpoint of Reducing new vertebral fractures and secondary endpoints of reducing time to first non-vertebral and hip fractures; adverse events similar to placebo. The immediate past president of the National Osteoporosis Foundation was excited.” I am particularly excited about these findings because they indicate that denosumab may offer an important new option for patients.”
Denosumab is the first fully human monoclonal antibody in late stage clinical development that particularly targets RANK Ligand, an essential regulator of osteoclasts (these are the cells that break the bone down). Denosumab is being investigated for its ability to inhibit all stages of osteoclast activity by a targeted mechanism. Denosumab is being studied for a variety of bone loss conditions including postmenopausal osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer treatment-induced bone loss in breast cancer and prostate cancer patients| in prostate cancer and breast cancer patients as well as for its ability to delay bone metastases and inhibit and treat bone destruction for many stages of cancer.
Often referred to as the “silent epidemic”, osteoporosis is a world wide problem illness, which is increasing in significance as the population of the world both ages and increases. WHO, The World Health Organization has recently identified osteoporosis as a priority health issue in addition to other major non-communicable diseases. We are dependent on the pharmaceutical companies to help combat this horrendous disease.
Amgen states that the economic burden of osteoporosis is referred to as the “silent epidemi’ to that of other major chronic diseases; for example, in the U.S. the costs associated with osteoporosis-related fractures are equivalent to those of cardiovascular disease and asthma (i)(ii)(iii). It has been reported that osteoporosis results in more hospital bed-days than stroke, myocardial infarction or breast cancer (iv).
Clinical pharmacist have been developing prescriptions drugs to help patient who experience serious side effects. These products are created simultaneously the medications that assist in the treatment of the initial illness. The fact that information is available to help predict the possible side effects and interactions drugs have with one another is outstanding.
There are several drugs that both, prevent and treat osteoporosis. A few prescriptions increase bone thickness or slow the rate of bone loss. Even small amounts of new bone growth may diminish the danger of breaking bones. It is essential that you take vitamin D and calcium, exercise and eat well when you take osteoporosis prescriptions.
- CF Thompson
:: Aug.10.2008 :: Health :: No Comments »
