Bazedoxifene acetate for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a gender-related disease that is especially prevalent in postmenopausal women. New drugs have been developed led by issues of interest and concerns about this disease, each one striving to be more effective and safer than the previous one. Bazedoxifene acetate is a new, third-generation, selective estrogen receptor modulator. This drug is used to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis in women with a high risk of fracture. Bazedoxifene acetate significantly prevents bone mass loss at 20 mg/day in healthy postmenopausal women with normal or low bone mineral density. The risk of vertebral fractures in women with osteoporosis was reduced by 42% (P < 0.05) after 3 years in a pivotal study. Five years later, the reduction was still 35% (P = 0.014). Post hoc analysis in women with a high risk of fractures showed a 50% reduced risk of nonvertebral fractures (P = 0.02) after 3 years and a 37% reduction (P = 0.06) after 5 years. Bazedoxifene acetate shows anti-fracture potential in the first few years after menopause and a greater antiestrogen effect at the level of the uterus. This has made this compound an appropriate option in young postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and a risk of fractures.