Denosumab for postmenopausal osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is the most common clinical disorder of bone metabolism, and is characterised by low bone mass and deterioration of the microarchitecture of bone tissue that results in increased bone fragility and susceptibility to bone fracture. In the UK, it is estimated that osteoporosis affects over 3 million people and leads to 230,000 fractures per year. It occurs most commonly in postmenopausal women and prevalence increases markedly with age, from 2% in women at 50 years to more than 25% at 80 years of age. Denosumab (Prolia - Amgen) is a monoclonal antibody that decreases bone resorption. It has been licensed in the EU for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at increased risk of fractures, and also for the treatment of bone loss associated with hormone ablation in men with prostate cancer at increased risk of fractures. Here, we review the role of denosumab in the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis.