FDA approves new use for Forteo

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new use for Eli Lilly and Company’s osteoporosis drug Forteo.

It has been given the go-ahead to treat osteoporosis related to sustained, systemic glucocorticoid therapy in men and women at high risk of fracture.

“Patients who take long-term glucocorticoid therapy are already dealing with a serious health condition, and, on top of that, they may be at a significantly higher risk for fracture,” explained medical director for Eli Lilly Vladimir Kopernicky.

He added that the FDA’s approval of the treatment in this area will give such patients a “valuable” therapy option for osteoporosis which they could develop because of sustained glucocorticoid use.

Kenneth G Saag, professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, said that before FDA’s decision there was only one class of approved therapy to treat glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis for physicians and patients.

Earlier this month, it emerged that Daiichi Sankyo and Eli Lilly received approval from the FDA for Effient tablets.

Sources: http://www.wherepharmameets.com