Bonviva, the first ever once monthly osteoporosis drug has been launched in the UK, with its co-marketers claiming the convenience of the pill will help women to maintain treatment.

Bonviva (ibandronic acid) is in the same bisphosphonate family as existing osteoporosis treatments and has a similar efficacy in helping to rebuild bone, but co-marketers Roche and GlaxoSmithKline say patients are more likely to stay on the more convenient dosing regime.

Like the other drugs in its class, Bonviva must be taken with plain water on an empty stomach after waking in the morning, and patients must also stand or sit and avoid food or drink for a further 60 minutes.

But the co-marketers say Bonviva has a clear advantage over existing treatments. They point to studies which suggest around 50% of women taking weekly bisphosphonates stop taking within 12 months, which they attribute to the inconvenience of taking a tablet once a week.

Dr Louise Dolan, consultant rheumatologist, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London commented on the new treatment: "A once a month treatment option should encourage women to take their treatment regularly, reducing the risk of fracture and the devastating impact this can have on their lives. I'm sure patients will appreciate fewer tablets."

Bisphosphonates can help prevent fractures to post-menopausal women, which represents a major health problem and a serious burden on NHS resources. The National Osteoporosis Society says half of all women over 50 will suffer a fracture, with women over 45 with hip fractures occupying more hospital beds than women of the same age who have breast cancer or diabetes.

Prescribing of osteoporosis treatments is widespread in the UK, with MSD's market leader Fosamax one of the 25 biggest selling drugs in 2004.

A UK high court overturned the patent on Fosamax in 2003, but legal delays meant the branded drug was still England's biggest selling osteoporosis treatment last year, earning the company £75 million.

Generic versions of the drug are now available, and Bonviva will have to battle against these and two other branded bisphosphonates from Procter & Gamble, Actonel and Didronel/Didronel PMO.

Bonviva is priced at £21.45 for a month's treatment, a similar price to a week's dose of Actonel, a strategy the company hope will persuade doctors and their patients to switch over to the new treatment.

Bonviva is already available under a different brand name - Bondronat - to reduce the damage caused when breast cancer spreads to the bones.

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Tuesday , February 01, 2005

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