Treatments for osteoporosis - looking beyond the HORIZON.

Bisphosphonates are an important option for the prevention of fractures in postmenopausal women. However, the complex instructions for the administration of oral bisphosphonates are inconvenient or unsuitable for many patients, and adherence to long-term therapy is poor.1 The introduction of oral regimens for administration once weekly and, recently, once monthly has been associated with improved tolerability for patients, although adherence remains suboptimal.2 The demonstration that once-yearly intravenous infusions of zoledronic acid produced a sustained reduction in bone turnover and increased bone mineral density raised the prospect that even less frequent administration and the hope of better adherence might be realized. . . .