Bisphosphonates in the treatment of osteoporosis

On October 20-21 in Kiev, the IV Scientific International Symposium "Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and age" was held. It was dedicated to the memory of prof. V.V. Povoroznyuk. Ananta Medicare supported the event and the report "Bisphosphonates in the treatment of osteoporosis" by Prof. Bastritskaya M.A.

Bisphosphonates are the largest group of drugs approved by the FDA for the prevention and treatment of systemic osteoporosis. In the world and Ukraine the most widely used bisphosphonates are alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate and zoledronate. The history of bisphosphonates dates back to the late 19th century. The first bisphosphonate was synthesized by Von Baeyer and Hoffman in 1897. In the first half of the 20th century, bisphosphonates were used in the chemical industry. The first application of bisphosphonates for humans was performed only in 1969. In 1971 bisphosphonates were used for Paget's disease for the first time. In 1995 the use of bisphosphonates in clinical practice for the treatment of osteoporosis was firstly reported.

Today, bisphosphonates are included in the main clinical guidelines for family doctors, endocrinologists, rheumatologists and other specialists. They are the first-line drugs for the prevention and treatment of systemic osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and for the treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in men.

The action of bisphosphonates is based on the inhibition of osteoclasts activity, thereby slowing down the process of bone resorption and reducing the likelihood of subsequent fractures. Bisphosphonates activity, determined in vivo and in vitro, is different and the activity of zoledronate is significantly superior to all other bisphosphonates.

Bisphosphonates are used both orally (adendronate, risedronate, and ibandronate) and parenterally (ibandronate and zoledronate).

The long-term treatment of systemic osteoporosis is based on the need to combine three components of therapy, namely: effective prevention of the risk of fractures, the safety of therapy, and the convenience for using drugs in long-term therapy.

To be continued….

In Ukraine only Ananta Medicare has a generic zoledronic acid in its range. It is a medicinal product Zoleum (zoledronic acid of 5 mg per 100 ml), and it is available for patients with osteoporosis.

ZOLEUM. Convenient management of osteoporosis!