Amgen's D-mab posts positive in late-stage trial

Amgen got a badly needed [1] boost with its announcement that its most promising experimental therapy [2], denosumab, significantly increased bone mineral density in a Phase III trial. The drug, delivered as a twice yearly injection, outperformed Fosamax in a study that was wrapped in January [3]. This new study focused on the outcomes of 332 patients with post-menopausal osteoporosis.

"The effect of denosumab on wrist BMD [bone mineral density], reinforced by the BMD increases at the total body and hip regions, suggests denosumab has a positive effect on highly cortical sites," said Javier San Martin, global development lead for the denosumab osteoporosis program.

Data on another late-stage study evaluating denosumab's impact on fracture risk reduction in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis is due later this year.

- see Amgen's release [4] on the trial
- check out the report [5] in the Wall Street Journal

Related Articles:
Amgen's D-mab meets trial goal [3]
Denosumab: Amgen's salvation? [2]
Amgen touts progress in two key programs [6]