www.hivandhepatitis.com

FDA Warns of Unusual Femur Fractures in People Taking Bisphosphonates for Osteoporosis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advisory about the potential risk of unusual femur or thigh-bone fractures in people who use bisphosphonate drugs such as alendronate (Fosamax) or risedronate (Actonel) to manage bone loss. The advisory and associated product label changes are based on a research review by a task force of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, described in the September 14, 2010 advance online edition of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. Rare cases of atypical subtrochanteric and diaphyseal femur fractures were linked to long-term bisphosphonate use, but it is not clear whether the drugs are the cause of these fractures.

Below is the text of a recent FDA press release describing the review and resulting action.

For further information:

• National Osteoporosis Foundation -- Bisphosphonates and Reports of Unusual Broken Bones in the Femur (Thigh Bone): www.nof.org/news/ osteoporosisnews/2010-0921.
• FDA Drug Safety Communication -- Safety update for osteoporosis drugs, bisphosphonates, and atypical fractures (includes information for patient and healthcare professionals): www.fda.gov/Drugs/ DrugSafety/ucm229009.htm.

FDA: Possible Increased Risk of Thigh
Bone Fracture with Bisphosphonates

Labeling change adds warning about possible risks of long-term use of osteoporosis drugs.

October 13, 2010 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned patients and health care providers about the possible risk of atypical thigh bone (femoral) fracture in patients who take bisphosphonates, a class of drugs used to prevent and treat osteoporosis. A labeling change and Medication Guide will reflect this risk.

Bisphosphonates inhibit the loss of bone mass in people with osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates have been shown to reduce the rate of osteoporotic fractures -- fractures that can result in pain, hospitalization, and surgery -- in people with osteoporosis. While it is not clear whether bisphosphonates are the cause, atypical femur fractures, a rare but serious type of thigh bone fracture, have been predominantly reported in patients taking bisphosphonates. The optimal duration of bisphosphonate use for osteoporosis is unknown, and the FDA is highlighting this uncertainty because these fractures may be related to use of bisphosphonates for longer than five years.

The labeling changes and Medication Guide will affect only those bisphosphonates approved for osteoporosis, including oral bisphosphonates such as Fosamax, Fosamax Plus D, Actonel, Actonel with Calcium, Boniva, Atelvia, and their generic products, as well as injectable bisphosphonates such as Reclast and Boniva.

Labeling changes and the Medication Guide will not apply to bisphosphonates used for Paget's disease or cancer/hypercalcemia such as Didronel, Zometa, Skelid, and their generic products.

"The FDA is continuing to evaluate data about the safety and effectiveness of bisphosphonates when used long-term for osteoporosis treatment," said RADM Sandra Kweder, MD, deputy director, Office of New Drugs in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "In the interim, it's important for patients and health care professionals to have all the safety information available when determining the best course of treatment for osteoporosis."

Today's warning follows a March 10, 2010, Drug Safety Communication announcing the FDA's ongoing safety review of bisphosphonate use and the occurrence of atypical femur fractures. The FDA has since reviewed all available data on bisphosphonate use, including data summarized in the American Society for Bone Mineral Research Task Force report. The report recommended additional product labeling, better identification and tracking of patients experiencing these breaks, and more research to determine whether and how these drugs cause the serious but uncommon fractures.

Based on the FDA's review, the Warnings and Precautions section of all bisphosphonate products for osteoporosis will be revised, and the FDA will require the inclusion of a Medication Guide to better inform patients of the possible increased fracture risk.

The FDA recommends that health care professionals be aware of the possible risk in patients taking bisphosphonates and consider periodic reevaluation of the need for continued bisphosphonate therapy for patients who have been on bisphosphonates for longer than five years.

Patients taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis should not stop using their medication unless told to do so by their health care professional. Those taking bisphosphonates also should report any new thigh or groin pain to their health care provider and be evaluated for a possible femur fracture. Patients and health care professionals should report side effects with the use of bisphosphonates to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program at www.fda.gov/MedWatch or by calling (800) 332-1088.