Press Release
For More Information, Contact Tammy McCoy (404) 633-3777
Embargoed for Release at 5:30 PM ET, Friday Oct. 24, 2003
Arthritis News
NEW OSTEOPOROSIS TREATMENT GIVES SUSTAINED RELIEF FROM BACK PAIN
FOR OVER A YEAR AFTER TREATMENT IS STOPPED
ORLANDO, FLORIDA—Prevention of
back pain in women with osteoporosis can last up
to 18
months beyond the end of treatment with teriparatide
(Forteo®),
a new injectable hormone-based medication used
to treat osteoporosis, according to research
presented this week at the American College of
Rheumatology
Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Florida.
The
study was a follow-up to the 2001 Fracture
Prevention Trial, during which patients with
postmenopausal osteoporosis were randomly given
teriparatide or
placebo to test the efficacy of the drug in
preventing fractures. Once the trial ended, 1,262 of the
original participants agreed to receive continued
monitoring
for 18 additional months to study how long
the effects of teriparatide would last beyond discontinuation
of the study. Total monitoring during the Fracture
Prevention Trial and the follow-up study lasted
a median of 39 months. During this time, significantly
fewer patients taking teriparatide reported
any
degree of new or worsening back pain, and of
those who did, severity of the pain was reduced.
Patients
taking teriparatide were 61% less likely to
experience severe back pain, and 83% less likely to experience
back pain with a new moderate or severe vertebral
fracture.
Fracture due to reduced bone strength
is a leading cause of disability in patients
with osteoporosis,
which affects 10 million people in the United
States, the majority of whom are women.
“In people with osteoporosis, back pain is a potentially
devastating consequence that may lead to suffering,
loss of independence, and reduced quality of
life,” said
John Krege, MD, Senior Clinical Research Physician
at Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis, and lead
investigator in the study. “To our knowledge,
teriparatide is the first drug for osteoporosis
to show benefits in preventing back pain.”
The American College of Rheumatology is the professional
organization for rheumatologists and health professionals
who share a dedication to healing, preventing
disability and curing arthritis and related rheumatic
and
musculoskeletal diseases. For more information
on the ACR’s annual meeting, see www.rheumatology.org/annual.
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