Reclast Receives FDA Approval

There are several medications that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for osteoporosis prevention and treatment. The US Food and Drug Administration recently approved Reclast (zolendronic acid) as a medication option for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Reclast is classified as a bisphosphonate medication, in the same class of medication as Fosamax (alendronate sodium), Actonel (risedronate sodium), and Boniva (ibandronate sodium). The US FDA approved Reclast based on the evidence of a three-year clinical trial involving more than 7,700 postmenopausal women called the Pivotal Fracture Trial. The results of the Pivotal Fracture Trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine on May 3, 2007. It was reported that Reclast increased bone mineral density 6.7% in the spine and 6% in the hip over three years. Over the three-year trial, the risk of spine fractures was reduced by 70%, the risk of hip fractures was reduced by 41%, and there was a 25% reduction in all non-spine fractures (a category that includes fractures in all other areas except the spine, toe, finger, or face). In addition, the risk of wrist and rib fractures was also significantly reduced. With the FDA-approval of Reclast, medical professionals have yet another effective medication option to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis. Reclast is administered by a doctor or medical professional once yearly as a 15-minute intravenous (IV) infusion. It is always important to discuss all of the potential benefits and risks of taking any osteoporosis medication with your doctor or medical professional.