News

WASHINGTON, DC (June 15, 2012) — On June 12, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released draft recommendations stating that there is insufficient evidence to assess the balance of the benefits and harms of calcium and vitamin D supplementation for the primary prevention of fractures. These recommendations do not apply to women with osteoporosis or broken bones after age 50 or those with significant risk factors for fracture.

In response to the Perspectives pieces published online today by the New England Journal of Medicine, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) commends the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its continued analysis of long-term bisphosphonate treatment in order to help patients and healthcare providers determine the appropriate length of time for treatment and urges patients not to stop treatment without first talking with their healthcare provider.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic versions of Boniva® (ibandronate), a once-monthly prescription tablet used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in women after menopause. Ibandronate is in a class of drugs called bisphosphonates that help increase bone mass and reduce the chance of broken bones.

The FDA has issued new warning label information for the osteoporosis drug zoledronic acid (Reclast) indicating that the drug should not be used in patients with significant renal impairment and stating that physicians should screen patients for kidney dysfunction before starting them on the drug. The FDA also identifies risk factors that physicians should take into consideration when prescribing Reclast including advanced age, concurrent treatment with other nephrotoxic drugs, and dehydration secondary to fever, sepsis, gastrointestinal losses or diuretic therapy.