Experimental Drug Reduces Fractures in Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis

A clinical study found that investigational drug abaloparatide-SC (subcutaneous) has the potential to reduce the risk of fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

“Abaloparatide-SC increased bone mineral density and reduced the risk of vertebral and nonvertebral fractures consistently in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis regardless of their baseline patient characteristics, including age, bone mineral density, and whether or not they had prior fractures,” said lead study author Felicia Cosman, MD, in a press release.

Patients were enrolled in the randomized, double-blind, multi-national phase 3 ACTIVE trial to test the safety and efficacy of abaloparatide-SC.

For 18 months, 2463 randomized participants between the ages of 49 and 86 received either 80 micrograms of abaloparatide-SC; 20 micrograms of subcutaneous teriparatide, an FDA-approved drug that increases bone density and strength; or placebo.

The results of the study showed that the abaloparatide-SC groups experienced a significant increase in bone mineral density from baseline of the lumbar spine by 9.2%, total hip by 3.4%, and femoral neck by 2.9%, compared with the placebo group.

Additionally, researchers saw an 86% reduction in new vertebral fractures in the abaloparatide-SC group with nonvertebral fractures by 43% and major osteoporotic fractures by 70% compared with the placebo group.

Abaloparatide-SC also reduced major osteoporotic fractures by 70% compared with teriparatide.

There was a consistent reduction in the risk of new vertebral or nonvertebral fractures among patients in the abaloparatide-SC group, regardless of baseline risk factors. Furthermore, no interactions between any of the baseline risk factors and the magnitude of increased buildup of bone density by abaloparatide.