A New Bone Strengthener for Myeloma Patients

In the international trial, denosumab was compared with Zometa in 1718 patients with newly diagnosed myeloma. Patients with extremely poor kidney function were excluded from the study. Patients either received shots of denosumab every four weeks with anti-myeloma therapy or Zometa with anti-myeloma therapy. The time for another skeletal lesion to appear in patients was similar between the two therapies: 43.8% for denosumab and 44.6% for Zometa. Overall survival rates were also similar between the two groups. There was, however, an improvement in progression-free survival in the denosumab group. The rates of adverse events for both treatments were similar. Rates of serious adverse events were 46% in denosumab patients vs. 47% in Zometa patients. Denosumab patients were more likely to have hypocalcemia (.9% vs. Zometa (.2%) and ostenecrosis of the jaw (4.1% vs. 2.8%).  Fewer adverse events related to kidney function occurred with denosumab (10%) vs. Zometa (17.1%). Dr. Raje hopes to perform further study comparing a wider variety of myeloma therapies with the two bone strengtheners, which could affect the development of bone lesions. A clinical trial is open to patients with renal issues using denosumab. Click here to learn more: Denosumab Clinical Trial