Once-Yearly Reclast(R) Demonstrates Highly Significant Fracture Risk Reductions In The Treatment Of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis, New Study Shows

New Phase III data presented for
the first time demonstrated that the investigational treatment Reclast(R)^
(zoledronic acid) 5 mg was highly effective in reducing the incidence of
bone fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis across the most
common fracture sites -- hip, spine and non-spine^^ -- with sustained
effect over three years.(1) Further data demonstrated that postmenopausal
osteoporosis patients currently taking oral alendronate can be directly
switched to Reclast and maintain beneficial bone effects for a full 12
months after a single dose.(2) These studies were presented today at the
annual meeting of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR)
in Philadelphia.


Postmenopausal osteoporosis (osteoporosis) is a serious condition
affecting millions of women worldwide.(3) An estimated one out of every two
women over age 50 with osteoporosis will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in
her lifetime.(4) Of those women age 65 years or older who fracture a hip,
21% will die within one year.(5) Reclast is the only once-yearly
bisphosphonate treatment being studied for the treatment of osteoporosis.


An interim analysis encompassing 99% of the data from the now completed
three-year HORIZON Pivotal Fracture Trial showed that patients treated with
Reclast experienced a 70% risk reduction in new spine fractures (p