Osteoporosis vaccine

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

A rather tempting way to prevent osteoporosis is offered by British scientists - a medicine that is enough to be administered once a year.

Modern osteoporosis medications are designed to be taken regularly (daily or weekly), so their effectiveness is often diminished by the lack of discipline of patients. Osteoporosis is an age-related disease that leads to a decrease in bone density and increased bone fragility. Fractures of large bones, especially of the femur, are especially dangerous for the elderly. According to British statistics, one in five patients with such a fracture dies from concomitant complications and infections within a few months after the injury.

Alcasta, developed by Novartis, is currently approved in several countries for the treatment of certain bone cancers. In the UK, a single injection of the drug costs £ 284 (about $ 500).

A large study found that using the new drug in postmenopausal women reduced the risk of life-threatening bone fractures by 40%.

A new drug called Alcasta, whose active ingredient is zoledronic acid, works for 12 months after a single intravenous injection. Previous studies of the drug have shown that its use leads to the restoration of bone mass. New trials, lasting three years, were to demonstrate that the drug did indeed reduce the risk of bone fractures. As the authors of the study emphasize, unlike drugs for oral administration, a single injection regimen minimizes the risk of premature termination or violation of the treatment regimen.