Novartis drug could provide ‘new standard of care’ for Paget’s disease

Recently published clinical studies have suggested that the Novartis drug Aclasta could provide a new standard of care in the fight against Paget’s disease of the bone, it has been claimed.

Trial data has shown that Aclasta is both more effective and longer lasting than current standard treatment, with average response to the compound occurring after 64 days, compared to 89 days in those administered with Actonel.

Paget’s disease is a chronic bone disorder resulting in abnormal bone-growth, with patients suffering from brittle bones that break more easily.

Frederick R Singer, director of the endocrine/bone disease programme at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, said: “The fact that Reclast is both highly effective and can last for several years in most patients could make this the new standard of care for Paget’s patients.”

He added that while existing bisphosphonate treatments are effective, they do not induce comparable length of remission in patients with Paget’s disease.

Aclasta is currently being reviewed by EU regulatory bodies for approval as a once-yearly treatment for women suffering from post-menopausal osteoporosis.

Last year, Novartis presented the results of a clinical study showing that Aclasta had exhibited improved long-term efficacy in treating Paget’s disease when compared with risedronate.