Hope On World Osteoporosis Day - New Drug In Development

Main Category: Bones / Orthopaedics
Article Date: 22 Oct 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Osteologix, Inc. (OTCBB:OLGX), a bio-pharmaceutical company announced today that the company will continue the clinical development for its osteoporosis drug, NB S101 (strontium malonate), in the United States and the rest of the world markets. Additionally, the company wants to recognize World Osteoporosis Day's significance and make more people aware of its research dedicated to improving the lives of people with osteoporosis.

"We believe that NB S101 will bring a safe and effective new alternative therapy for the millions of patients with osteoporosis. Our product can be manufactured and commercialized in a way that should also appeal to the cost conscious patients, physicians and payers," said Philip J. Young, CEO of Osteologix. "In addition, our recently expanded global patent estate will allow our shareholders a long window of opportunity to realize returns on their investments."

Different from other drug therapies available in the U.S., NB S101 is a dual acting bone agent (DABA), designed to benefit patients by strengthening the bone in two ways. Unlike the aggressive actions of other therapies, which can sometimes lead to brittle bones after several years of therapy, strontium is a moderate anti resorptive drug that also works to enhance bone mineralization giving the patients stronger, more fracture-resistant bones. Another key advantage researchers note is that strontium therapy is an excellent choice for the significant number of women who cannot take or tolerate bisphosphonate treatment, (the largest class of drugs currently used to treat osteoporosis).

Currently, there is one prescription strontium therapy widely used in Europe and other parts of the world, Protelos® (strontium ranelate), which is marketed by a French pharmaceutical company. Protelos has been prescribed for five years and has demonstrated excellent efficacy and safety in patients of all ages. It is unavailable in the U.S. Strontium therapy with NB S101 should be preferred over the French product. First, NB S101 is a tablet, not a powder that needs to be suspended in water, which Osteologix believes will aid in compliance, as it is easier for patients to take. Second, studies conducted by the company have demonstrated that NB S101 has better bioavailability -- meaning the patients can take a lower dose of the active element, strontium, and obtain the same blood level. Osteologix believes that its drug will provide fracture reduction and safety on par with or better than the French product.

Osteologix has already conducted two human studies in hundreds of subjects with NB S101 (strontium malonate) and is in the planning stages of further clinical development that will be conducted here, in the U.S., and around the world.

About Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in humans and, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), 10 million Americans are estimated to have the disease and almost 34 million more are estimated to have osteopenia or low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. The most severe consequence of osteoporosis is skeletal fracture. Osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually and direct expenditures for hip fractures are estimated to cost society more than $18 billion annually. According to NOF, one in two women and one in four men over age 50 can be expected to have an osteoporosis-related fracture at some time.

Source
Osteologix