| Home | Estrogen alternative shows promise for preventing osteoporosis without side effects posted 6-20-97 Within a year, menopausal women may have a new drug treatment available that prevents osteoporosis without the potentially dangerous side effects associated with estrogen replacement therapy, according to a study supported by the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). The drugs, raloxifene, acts like estrogen in the skeleton, guarding against bone loss, but blocks the growth-stimulating effects of estrogen in the breast and uterus, where hormone stimulation can lead to increased tumor development, according to preliminary study data. Raloxifene is among the first compounds cultivated from a class of drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). Pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly and Co. recently presented clinical data from an ongoing study of raloxifene at an international symposium in Washington sponsored by the NOF. Raloxifene and other promising SERMs represent an important alternative for women who don’t want hormone replacement therapy, said Felicia Cosman, MD, clinical director for the NOF and an osteoporosis specialist at the Helen Hayes Hospital in New York. Although some women will continue estrogen treatment for its stronger protection against osteoporosis and heart disease, Cosman expects a demand for the new drugs. "If you’re talking about the healthy woman at menopause, with no family history of heart disease or osteoporosis, then raloxifene may be the preferred alternative," Cosman said. "I think it’s going to have a large population for whom it’s recommended." The five-year study of raloxifene, now in its third year, involves 12,000 women in 25 countries. Preliminary results show raloxifene increases bone mineral density by 2 to 3 percent compared to a placebo and lowers cholesterol levels. Drawbacks associated with the drug include an increased risk of phlebitis and hot flashes, Cosman said. Eli Lilly is expected to seek Food and Drug Administration approval for raloxifene this year. Related Story Related Sites
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