Survey: Most osteoporosis patients prefer non-pill treatments

SAN ANTONIO — Nearly three-quarters of osteoporosis patients prefer to take their medication in a form other than an oral solid, according to a new survey.

The survey was sponsored by drug maker Mission Pharmacal and conducted by Inspire, a company that develops health and wellness communities for patients and caregivers, using patients drawn from the online support community of the National Osteoporosis Foundation. It found that 74% prefer their medication in a form other than a capsule or tablet. Mission Pharmacal is the manufacturer of the drug Binosto, a water-dissolvable tablet that delivers the drug alendronate sodium as a strawberry-flavored fizzy solution.

The company said the purpose of the survey was to raise awareness of osteoporosis and encourage people to talk to their doctors about treatment options, and it showed that most patients with the condition want a choice in the medication they take.

"The results of this survey show that patients are interested in options," said Robert Recker, director of the Osteoporosis Research Center at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. "We take medication compliance very seriously because we know it can result in fewer fractures with osteoporosis."