New Osteoporosis medication: Protelos, strontium ranelate

Protelos or strontium ranelate, has been approved for use as an Osteoporosis medication in 27 European Countries. An announcement by Servier, the French manufacturerof this drug can be found on their new release page of Servier's web stie.

This drug opens a new direction in Osteoporosis medication because it not only slows the work of the osteoclasts but it stimulates osteoblasts to create new bone. This is the first drug that does both.

Protelos has received the Frost and Sullivan Award for drug innovation. The Award statement said, in part:

"This award brings recognition to a truly innovative therapy for the treatment of a disease which is often referred to as the “silent epidemic”. Almost half of women aged 50 years are predicted to sustain at least one fracture in the remainder of their lifetime . . .[This drug] offers a completely new approach to treating postmenopausal osteoporosis and provides doctors and patients alike new hope in the fight against the disease."

Sources:Protelos (strontium ranelate)
http://www.servier.com/pro/html_news_home/frost_sull.asp

Effectiveness of this Osteoporosis medication.

Servier published clinical tests results showing that in a five year study of 5,091post menopausal women with osteoporosis showed:

• 16% risk reduction in non vertebral fracture (p=0.04)
• 19% risk reduction in major fragility fractures (hip, wrist, pelvis & sacrum, ribs & sternum, clavicle and humerus)(p=0.031)
• 36% risk reduction in hip fracture in a high risk elderly population (age > / = 74 years and T score
• 8.2% increase in bone mineral density at the femoral neck (p<0.001)
• Protelos was also shown to reduce vertebral fracture by 39% (p<0.001).

Good news for those who find some Osteoporosis medication irritating.Servier's study also states that Protelos was well tolerated throughout the study. Irritation of the upper gastrointestinal level was no greater for Protelos than for the placebo! Full Source: http://www.druginfozone.nhs.uk

The Full European Public Assessment Report now available. If you would like to read the complete European Public Assessment Report, it is available in 19 languages (click on the language abbreviation in the lower left hand corner of the web site).

Most people will be interested in thefirst part of the report: Summary of Product Characteristics for Protelos, strontium ranelate

Practical information about Protelos.

What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking this Protelos (strontium ranelate)?

• If you have severe kidney disease be sure to mention this.

• If you are on any antibiotics be sure that you raise this with your healthcare provider to make sure the ones you are taking are compatible with Protelos.

• If you have had a blood clot since the drug was associated with clotting duringthe trials.

Servier now has a page where they discuss both the benefits and possible problems that can arise if you are taking Protelos. There are all sorts of hints such as when to take this medication and possible negative side effects that could arise. If you want to read thier report, go to Protelos, Strontium Ranelate

If you wish to review some of the major research studies about Protelos, go to Osteoporosis medication: Strontium Ranelate, Protelos

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