Antiresorptive agents, raloxifene, and PHARMAC.
Antiresorptive agents have become the cornerstone for the treatment of established osteoporosis. Since the significant decrease in the use of hormone replacement therapy as treatment for osteoporosis, bisphosphonates have become the cornerstone of osteoporosis treatment. For many years, vitamin D analogues had been subsidised with very little evidence of efficacy. Older bisphosphonates with difficult dosing regimes have also been available. It has taken 10 years of intense effort to ensure better availability of a new generation bisphosphonate while others remain unfunded. Raloxifene, a selective oestrogen receptor modulator, has also undergone this evaluation for some 5 years as a second-line agent for the prevention of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women. It is hoped that the recent objectiveness shown by PHARMAC to access criteria for a newer bisphosphonate will enable raloxifene to be available to postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in a shorter timeframe. Access to alternative antiresorptives and anabolic agents is awaited with interest.
Gilchrist
Nigel
N
Health Care of Elderly, The Princess Margaret Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand. NigelG@cdhb.govt.nz
D000368:Aged; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017277:Drug Approval; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride