Bone-building drug for post-menopausal women

Tens of thousands of women who have gone through the menopause could benefit from a new bone-strengthening drug, according to the medicines watchdog National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The drug, abaloparatide, can protect against the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis, which causes a high risk of broken bones in older age and according to NICE, will be available on the NHS in England within the next three months.

The injection, which comes as a pre-filled pen that can be self-administered once a day, encourages cells to make new bone.

According to Dr Nicky Peel, a clinical trustee at the Royal Osteoporosis Society and metabolic bone physician, the new drug is “a very well-tolerated treatment” for most people, adding that while some people experience nausea, headaches or palpitations, often during the early stages of treatment, the drug is suitable for most people at high risk of bone fracture.

Professor Jonathan Benger, chief medical officer and deputy chief executive at NICE, said “The independent committee heard from patients about how debilitating osteoporosis can be.  Our focus is on enabling access to care that improves quality of life while offering value to the taxpayer.”

More than three million people have osteoporosis in the UK.  The prevalence increases markedly with age, about 2 per cent of women aged 50 have it compared with almost 50 per cent of women who are 80.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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