Merck develops osteoperosis drug to increase bone density

by Jacob Cherian    October 02, 2008

TRENTON, N.J.(GroundReport) - According to published reports, a new type of osteoporosis drug under development by Merck & Co. was found to increase bone density over a period of two years in postmenopausal women with mild osteoporosis.

The company reported Tuesday that the drug, known by its chemical name as odanacatib, increased bone density in a mid-stage trial by about 5.5 percent in the lower spine.

In a comparison group of women getting dummy pills on average had bone density decrease about 0.2 percent from its level at the start of the study, The Associated Press reports.

Chief of clinical research for musculo-skeletal conditions at Merck, Art Santora, said existing treatments generally increase bone mass in the first year of treatment, then just maintain it, but odanacatib continued to increase bone mass in the second year.

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