Teriparatide Approved in Canada for Steroid-Induced Osteoporosis
TORONTO -- August 21, 2008 -- Teriparatide (rDNA origin [Forteo]) injection] has been approved by Health Canada for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) in men and women who are at high risk for bone fracture.
The approval of teriparatide is based on a 36-month, double-blind, active comparator-controlled trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The study found that at 18 months of therapy, teriparatide significantly increased lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) from baseline (7.2%) compared with alendronate sodium (Fosamax [3.4%]).
This new indication provides patients with a new treatment option to reduce their risk of bone fracture and bone loss related to glucocorticoid therapy.
