Thousands of menopausal women in England could benefit from a new drug that helps prevent bone fractures.
Bone density declines rapidly after menopause, because of a decrease in the levels of oestrogen. This thinning of bone density known as osteoporosis and can increase the risk of bone fractures.
In England and Wales, more than two million women suffer from osteoporosis. The condition is linked to more than half a million fractures a year in UK, at a cost of more than £4.5bn.
Abaloparatide, a daily at-home injection, has been approved for NHS use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The drug, sold as Eladynos and made by Theramex, increases bone density by stimulating the cells that make new bones. It has been recommended for patients at high risk of bone fractures, with Nice estimating that it could benefit more than 14,000 women who have gone through menopause.
“The independent committee heard from patients about how debilitating osteoporosis can be and how it impacts all aspects of day-to-day life, such as not going out for a walk because they are fearful of falling and having a fracture,” said Jonathan Benger, chief medical officer and deputy chief executive of Nice.
“This can impair mental and physical health. Our focus is on enabling access to care that improves quality of life while offering value to the taxpayer.
“Abaloparatide has been found by our independent committee to be clinically and cost effective at reducing the risk of fracture, giving people more independence and, therefore, a better quality of life.”
Craig Jones, chief executive of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, said: “Considering that half of women over 50 will suffer broken bones due to osteoporosis, and the extent of disability these breaks cause, the paucity of new treatments over the last decade and a half has been a huge cause for concern.
“We are very pleased that Nice have recommended a new drug treatment for postmenopausal women at the greatest risk of breaking bones. This will change many thousands of lives for the better and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact it makes in communities across the country.”
Prof Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, added: “GPs will always do our best to develop a treatment plan with patients based on all the various factors impacting on their health – and sometimes first line treatments won’t be appropriate or effective – so it’s positive to see a new treatment option has been approved by Nice for us to consider.
“We hope that this will help patients who have osteoporosis but have not responded to other treatments.”
Abaloparatide will be available to eligible patients on the NHS within three months.
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