Lilly announces osteoporosis drug study results

INDIANAPOLIS — A biotech drug made by Eli Lilly for osteoporosis appeared no more or less effective than a pharmaceutical drug available as a generic in treating women with related bone fractures, but was more effective in some other measures, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial released Tuesday.



Lilly released results of a phase-3 study of Forteo (teriparatide [rDNA origin]) in postmenopausal women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures that compared the drug with risedronate, originally marketed by Warner Chilcott under the brand name Actonel. The study found no difference between Forteo and risedronate in the ability to reduce the worst back pain by 30% after six months, but patients using Forteo showed greater increases in bone mineral density and fewer new vertebral fractures. Results of the study are in the August issue of the journal Osteoporosis International.



"With many available options to treat osteoporosis, this study is important because it compares two established osteoporosis medicines in a direct, head-to-head design," said Peyman Hadji, Philipps-University of Marburg endocrinology, osteoporosis and reproductive medicine department head and lead study investigator.

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