Comparative efficacy and safety of alendronate and teriparatide in bone loss reduction and prevention of vertebral fracture in osteoporotic Chinese patients

Purpose: To compare the effect of teriparatide and alendronate (bisphosphonate, BPP) among Chinese patients with osteoporosis (OoP). Method: Chinese subjects aged > 40 years with a history of vertebral/non-vertebral osteoporotic fragility/fractures were enrolled, and administered either teriparatide (TPT 20 mu g/day) subcutaneously or alendronate (BPP)10 mg orally once daily for 12 months. Bone mineral density (BMD), measured using x-ray techniques, and bone formation biomarkers such as osteocalcin [OTC] and bone alkaline phosphatase, were assessed at baseline, and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. The proportion of patients with fractures as well as fracture rate were also recorded. The safety of the drugs was evaluated based treatment emergent adverse events. Result: In Chinese men with OoP, substantially greater improvement in BMD was observed in TPT group, compared to BPP group. TPT demonstrated substantially greater improvement in OTC and, bone alkaline phosphatase than in BPP. Also, patients treated with TPT had significantly lower incidence of new fracture than BPP group during the study period, irrespective of gender distribution (relative risk reduction at 6 and 12 months was 45 and 47 % respectively). The results showed that TPT was superior to BPP in increasing BMD and bone formation biomarkers and reducing new fractures in both male and female patients with osteoporosis. Conclusion: Teriparatide is effective and safe in reducing bone loss and preventing vertebral fractures in Chinese patients with osteoporosis. Furthermore, the results show that there is no gender difference in the efficacy and safety of teriparatide in osteoporosis.

Automated summary

The study compared the effects of teriparatide and alendronate in Chinese patients with osteoporosis, finding that teriparatide showed significantly greater improvements in BMD and bone formation biomarkers compared to alendronate, as well as a lower incidence of new fractures. The results suggest that teriparatide is superior to alendronate in increasing BMD, bone formation, and reducing fractures in both male and female patients with osteoporosis.