The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug called Bonsity (teriparatide) for the treatment of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition that makes bones weak and more likely to break. Bonsity is approved for postmenopausal women at high risk for fractures, for men with primary or hypogonadal osteoporosis at high risk for fractures, and for men and women with osteoporosis caused by long-term use of steroid medicines. It is meant for people who have not responded well to or cannot tolerate other osteoporosis treatments.
Bonsity is a form of parathyroid hormone that helps the body build new bone. In a key study of postmenopausal women, Bonsity reduced the risk of new spine fractures by 65% and other fractures by 53% compared to a placebo, when both groups took calcium and vitamin D. The recommended dose is 20 micrograms injected under the skin once a day, and treatment should not last more than two years over a person's lifetime.
This approval gives patients and doctors another option to help prevent fractures. However, it is not for everyone. Doctors should consider Bonsity for patients at high risk for fracture, such as those who have already had a fracture or have multiple risk factors. Patients will need to learn how to inject the medicine and should be watched for low blood pressure when standing up, especially when starting treatment.
If you have osteoporosis, talk to your doctor about whether Bonsity might be right for you. This approval does not mean it is the best choice for everyone, and you should not stop or change any current treatment without medical advice.
