RESEARCH - Actonel (risedronate) provides better earlier fracture protection than Fosamax (alendronate)

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Risedronate Provides Better Earlier Fracture Protection Than Alendronate

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 22 - Results of a retrospective study suggest

that risedronate provides greater fracture protection in the first year of

therapy than alendronate.

Among 33,830 women aged 65 and older initiating once weekly risedronate or

alendronate for the first time, researchers found that those taking

risedronate (n = 12,215) had significantly lower rates of hip and

nonvertebral fractures during the first year of therapy than those taking

alendronate (n = 21,615).

" The rapid onset of fracture reduction observed for risedronate in this

study is consistent with results from randomized clinical trials of

risedronate, " Dr. Pierre Delmas from Universite Claude Bernard, Lyon,

France, notes in a statement accompanying the study published online

November 17 in the journal Osteoporosis International.

During 12 months of observation after the start of bisphosphonate therapy,

there were 507 nonvertebral fractures and 109 hip fractures.

During the first 3 months of therapy, the incidence of fracture was similar

between the risedronate and alendronate cohorts.

After 6 months of therapy, the risedronate cohort had a 46% lower incidence

of hip fracture and a 19% lower incidence of nonvertebral fracture compared

with the alendronate cohort.

After 12 months of therapy, the risedronate cohort had a 43% lower incidence

of hip fracture and an 18% lower incidence of nonvertebral fracture relative

to the alendronate cohort.

" These results do not appear to be explained by baseline differences in

fracture risk between the two cohorts, " note the authors. " Thus it appears

patients receiving risedronate are better protected from hip and

nonvertebral fractures during their first year of therapy than patients

receiving alendronate. "

Four of the authors on the report have received consulting fees, lecture

fees, or research grants from The Alliance for Better Bone Health (Procter

and Gamble Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi-Aventis, while the fifth is an

employee of Procter and Gamble.

The two treatments were not compared with regard to side effects in this

retrospective analysis.

Osteoporos Int 2006.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/548182

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