GSK and Roche sponsor osteoporosis campaign

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced the launch of a campaign co-sponsored by Roche to raise awareness of osteoporosis. As part of national osteoporosis awareness month in the US, actress Sally Field has addressed congress to inform lawmakers of the issue.

Ms Field, a two-time winner of the Golden Globe, Academy Award and Emmy Awards, told congress of the Rally With Sally For Bone Health campaign supported by the aforementioned pharmaceutical firms.

The aim of the project is to encourage women to protect themselves against the risk of bone fractures by taking regular exercise, ensuring intake of vitamin D and calcium, getting a bone mineral density test and taking pharmaceuticals prescribed to them by physicians.

“Any woman can find herself at risk for osteoporosis at some point in her life,” said Ms Field.

“But we can start to shift the odds in our favour by rallying together and challenging ourselves and each other to take care of the health of our bones.”

GSK reported that following a year of prescription medication, a bone mineral density test given to Ms Field showed a halt in the progression of her osteoporotic bone loss.

Boniva, a compound co-marketed by GSK and Roche, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for osteoporosis in January 2006.