October 20 is World Osteoporosis Day. Although the designated day is meant to draw attention to osteoporosis, too many Americans are already aware of the ravages of this destructive bone disease. Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in humans. The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that 10 million people in the U.S. suffer from osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become weak and susceptible to fracture. Approximately half of all women and a quarter of men over age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in their lives.
Osteologix, a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the treatment of musculoskeletal diseases, today announced the continued clinical development of its osteoporosis drug candidate, NB S101 (strontium malonate). NB S101 is designed to decrease bone loss while aiding in the maintenance and formation of new bone. San Francisco-based Osteologix is positioning NB S101 as an alternative to traditional osteoporosis treatments, which can lead to brittle bone over time or may poorly tolerated by many female patients. NB S101 is similar to Protelos, a strontium therapy developed by a French pharmaceutical company. Protelos has been widely used outside the U.S. for five years.
In related news, the FDA requested more data on Amgen‘s osteoporosis drug denosumab. Analysts are saying that the delay hurts the sales potential of denosumab, which is one of the most eagerly anticipated drugs in the industry at the moment. Amgen is facing a decline in sales of the anemia drugs Aranesp and Epogen, and is relying on denosumab to boost revenue.
The U.S. market for osteoporosis drugs is an estimated $8.4 billion. Other companies developing treatments for osteoporosis include Acologix, Theratechnologies, Medivir, and Zelos Therapeutics. Both CompuMed and Demetech have created systems to diagnose osteoporosis.