New data from a real-world evidence study presented at the 21st World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases 2021 demonstrates significant difference for risedronate GR (Actonel® GR) in reducing fracture risk in patients with osteoporosis when directly compared with another oral bisphosphonate (alendronate IR.)
The study directly compared risedronate GR with alendronate IR and patients were matched at the start of the study by age, previous fractures, and current comorbidities (or illnesses).
Risedronate GR-treated patients showed a 19% lower incidence rate of fractures of any site versus the alendronate cohort (p<0.05) and a 31% reduction in the risk of spine fractures (p<0.05).
Patients in the risedronate GR cohort incurred fewer hospitalisations over the mean observation period of 4.45 years than patients in the alendronate IR cohort (p<0.05).
This translates into numerically lower hospitalisation costs (average per-patient-per-year; GR: $3,605; alendronate: $4,572, p=0.0681).
The data is from a real-world study that analysed healthcare claims data from over 5,000 women with osteoporosis to demonstrate a 17% reduction in incidence of any site fractures for patients taking risedronate GR compared with those taking any oral IR bisphosphonates (p<0.05)
Lead study investigator, Dr Friederike Thomasius, commented: “Osteoporosis causes one in three women over the age of 50 to suffer a life-changing, but preventable, fragility fracture. However, many patients are not diagnosed or treated until a fracture occurs.
“The healthcare community should carefully consider all of the options available to our patients to reduce fracture risk.”
Bisphosphonates have a number of restrictions associated with how they are taken, for example, the need to fast overnight before taking and for 30 minutes afterwards.
Up to a third of patients treated with bisphosphonates incorrectly take them with food, which may increase fracture risk through reduced treatment efficacy. Risedronate GR is the only oral bisphosphonate which can be taken with food and keep its efficacy due to its enteric coating.
Robert Stewart, CEO of Theramex, shared his thoughts: “We are delighted with this robust head-to-head data set, that further supports Actonel® GR as a reliable treatment, with a convenient treatment regimen and, most importantly, significant difference when it comes to risk of fracture and hospitalisation versus more traditional oral IR bisphosphonates.
“Osteoporosis is a condition affecting 200 million women globally, and as our mission at Theramex is solely dedicated to improving women’s health, we hope this real-world evidence will help improve the management of osteoporosis and patients’ quality of life.”
