[Clinical experience with raloxifene]

Selective receptor modulators (SERMs) are drugs which act via the estrogen receptors and possess tissue specific estrogenic or anti-estrogenic properties. The bone and cardiovascular effects of SERMs are estrogen-like, while they have an effect as estrogen antagonist in the mammary tissues. Raloxifene is the first representative of selective estrogen receptor modulators which does not cause estrogenic effects in the uterus. Based on numerous recently completed controlled clinical trials, the authors characterize the clinical features of raloxifene to assess its therapeutic potency.