prostate-report.org

Drug prevents bone loss in prostate cancer

In a study, Amgen Inc’s experimental drug Denosumab reduced the risk of osteoporosis and fracture in men being treated with prostate cancer medicines that can cause bone loss, the company said on Monday.
 
But investors remain focused on upcoming data that will show whether the drug is effective in the larger market of osteoporosis patients, and Amgen shares were little changed in afternoon trading.

Denosumab — a bioengineered antibody that targets a protein involved with bone-destroying cells called osteoclasts — is seen as key to Amgen’s future now that growth of its flagship anemia drug franchise has waned due to safety concerns.

Men receiving denosumab also experienced less than half the incidence of new vertebral fractures than those receiving the placebo, Amgen said.

Denosumab is given twice yearly by injection.

Tags: bone loss, prostate cancer