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Fosamax June 18
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Billions Spent On Brittle-Bone Drugs That Help Few People
Jun 18, 2015 | BDlive
By John Tozzi
...The global market for osteoporosis drugs was $8.4bn in 2013, market researcher Transparency estimates. The first drug to treat osteoporosis in the US was Merck’s Fosamax, approved in 1995. Merck’s patent on Fosamax expired in 2008. Merck, Actavis, Roche and Novartis, another major seller of osteoporosis drugs, had no comment on the...
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Billions Spent On Brittle-Bone Drugs That Help Few People
Jun 18, 2015 | BDlive
By John Tozzi
Drugs to increase bone strength that have reaped billions of dollars in sales are not worth the cost and the risk of side-effects, researchers argue in a paper published in The British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Medications for osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones more fragile and susceptible to breaking, do little to prevent hip fractures, the most devastating consequence of the disease, the authors conclude. And they can sidetrack patients who should instead be exercising, eating right and quitting smoking.
The BMJ analysis of data from 33 previous studies suggests few people benefit from drugs intended to prevent broken hips.
...Three leading bone drugs have generated more than $17bn in combined revenue since 2007 for Merck, Actavis and Roche, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
The global market for osteoporosis drugs was $8.4bn in 2013, market researcher Transparency estimates.
The first drug to treat osteoporosis in the US was Merck’s Fosamax, approved in 1995. Merck’s patent on Fosamax expired in 2008.
Merck, Actavis, Roche and Novartis, another major seller of osteoporosis drugs, had no comment on the study or did not respond to e-mails seeking comment.
Osteoporosis is an asymptomatic disease. People naturally lose bone mass as they age. About 9% of US adults older than 50 are thought to have bone loss that constitutes osteoporosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is most common among older women, particularly whites and Asians.
Fragile bones can lead to greater risk of fractures in the hip, spine, wrist or shoulder. Hip fractures are considered the most serious as they typically leave patients bedridden, which can further degrade their health, Ilyas says.
Research suggests one-fifth of people who fracture their hips die in the following year.
The case for reducing hip fractures is clear, and the study does not dispute that the drugs can be effective in strengthening bones. What is unclear is whether the current approach of widespread screening and medication for those with fragile bones works...
For full story:
http://www.bdlive.co.za/life/health/2015/06/18/billions-spent-on-brittle-bone-drugs-that-help-few-people
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