Menu

Press Releases

Phase III Data Published For Once Monthly Dose Of Risedronate To Treat Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. and CINCINNATI, January 14, 2008 – Results from a Phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of risedronate 150 mg once monthly for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis were published this month in the January issue of the peer-reviewed journal Bone. In the non-inferiority study comparing risedronate 150 mg once monthly to risedronate 5 mg daily, increases in lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) at one year were similar for patients taking either the monthly or daily dosing regimens. All patients were supplemented with calcium and vitamin D.
In the study, BMD was measured at the lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, and femoral trochanter. There were no statistically significant differences in BMD increases between the risedronate 150 mg once monthly and the 5 mg daily dose groups at 12 months at all sites. In the study, the tolerability and safety profiles also were generally similar for the monthly and daily dosing regimens of risedronate.
“Our goal is to provide patients with convenient dosing options for risedronate,” said Nora Zorich, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President, Global R&D, P&G Pharmaceuticals. “If this dose regimen is approved, there will be a once monthly dose option available to patients seeking less frequent dosing of risedronate.”
About the Study
The MERIT-OP (Monthly Evaluation of Risedronate Trial in Osteoporosis) study is a 2-year, randomized, double-blind, active-control (5 mg daily risedronate) clinical trial which evaluated 1,292 postmenopausal women between 50 and 88 years old, mean age 64.9, from 47 clinical centers in 13 countries. The participants had osteoporosis, defined as a lumbar spine (LS) BMD T-score less than -2.5 or a LS BMD T-score less than -2.0 and at least one prevalent vertebral fracture. Patients were randomized to dosing regimens of either risedronate 150 mg monthly or risedronate 5 mg daily and received daily supplements of calcium (1,000 mg) and vitamin D (400-1000 IU). The primary efficacy objective of the study was to demonstrate non-inferiority of the risedronate 150 mg monthly regimen to the risedronate 5 mg daily regimen as assessed by percent change from baseline in LS BMD at 12 months. The 24 month results will be reported at a later time. At 12 months, the mean LS BMD increases were 3.54% and 3.43% for the monthly and daily regimens, respectively. The most common adverse events reported in this study for the once monthly vs. daily dosing regimens, respectively, were upper abdominal pain (8.2% vs. 6.1%), diarrhea (8.2% vs. 4.7%), constipation (5.8% vs. 7.3%), influenza (8.9% vs. 4.2%) and arthralgia (5.5% vs. 7.3%).
The trial was sponsored by The Alliance for Better Bone Health.
About The Alliance for Better Bone Health
The Alliance for Better Bone Health was formed in May 1997 to promote bone health and disease awareness through numerous activities to support physicians and patients around the globe. It is a collaboration between Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals and sanofi-aventis U.S.
About Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG)
Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Folgers®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Actonel®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, and Braun®. The P&G community consists of 138,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT : SAN) and in New York (NYSE : SNY).
For P&G: All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this release, are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on financial data, market assumptions and business plans available only as of the time the statements are made, which may become out of date or incomplete. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other factors. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that events could differ significantly from our expectations. In addition to the risks and uncertainties noted in this release, there are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by some of the statements made. These include: (1) the ability to achieve business plans, including with respect to lower income consumers and growing existing sales and volume profitably despite high levels of competitive activity, especially with respect to the product categories and geographical markets (including developing markets) in which the Company has chosen to focus; (2) the ability to successfully execute, manage and integrate key acquisitions and mergers, including (i) the Domination and Profit Transfer Agreement with Wella, and (ii) the Company’s merger with The Gillette Company, and to achieve the cost and growth synergies in accordance with the stated goals of these transactions; (3) the ability to manage and maintain key customer relationships; (4) the ability to maintain key manufacturing and supply sources (including sole supplier and plant manufacturing sources); (5) the ability to successfully manage regulatory, tax and legal matters (including product liability, patent, and intellectual property matters as well as those related to the integration of Gillette and its subsidiaries), and to resolve pending matters within current estimates; (6) the ability to successfully implement, achieve and sustain cost improvement plans in manufacturing and overhead areas, including the Company's outsourcing projects; (7) the ability to successfully manage currency (including currency issues in volatile countries), debt, interest rate and commodity cost exposures; (8) the ability to manage continued global political and/or economic uncertainty and disruptions, especially in the Company's significant geographical markets, as well as any political and/or economic uncertainty and disruptions due to terrorist activities; (9) the ability to successfully manage competitive factors, including prices, promotional incentives and trade terms for products; (10) the ability to obtain patents and respond to technological advances attained by competitors and patents granted to competitors; (11) the ability to successfully manage increases in the prices of raw materials used to make the Company's products; (12) the ability to stay close to consumers in an era of increased media fragmentation; and (13) the ability to stay on the leading edge of innovation and maintain a positive reputation on our brands. For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those projected herein, please refer to our most recent 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports.
For sanofi-aventis: This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include product development, product potential projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future events, operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions. Although sanofi-aventis’ management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of sanofi-aventis, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMEA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such products candidates, the absence of guarantee that the products candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives as well as those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by sanofi-aventis, including those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in sanofi-aventis’ annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006. Other than as required by applicable law, sanofi-aventis does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.
Contacts:
Angela Collom Kate Gormley
Dorland Global Public Relations Dorland Global Public Relations
P: 215-928-2188 P: 215-928-2720
acollom@dorland.com kgormley@dorland.com