She adds, “Although the effects on fracture risk have not been established, the results of the study by Langdahl and colleagues suggest that the greatest benefits for hip BMD and estimated strength are obtained with a drug such as romosozumab that stimulates bone formation and inhibits bone resorption.”
“Use of sequential therapy in osteoporosis is the focus of much attention, and this study shows the potential for the use of drugs with different mechanisms of action as a strategy to improve outcomes in the management of osteoporosis. Since the duration of therapy with bone-forming agents is limited and bone loss follows treatment withdrawal, the subsequent use of interventions to maintain treatment benefits is an important area for future research,” Dr. Compston concludes.
Dr. Langdahl and several coauthors have disclosed financial relationships with Amgen, UCB Pharma, and other pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Compston has received speaking fees from Amgen for a talk on the treatment gap in osteoporosis.
References
- Langdahl BL, Libanati C, Crittenden DB, et al. Romosozumab (sclerostin monoclonal antibody) versus teriparatide in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis transitioning from oral bisphosphonate therapy: A randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2017 Jul 26. pii: S0140-6736(17)31613-6. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31613-6. [Epub ahead of print]
- Compston J. Bone-forming agents in non-responders to bisphosphonates. Lancet. 2017 Jul 26. pii: S0140-6736(17)31824-X. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31824-X. [Epub ahead of print]
