More convenient osteoporosis treatment now available
Australian women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, a chronic bone disease that weakens bones and makes them more likely to fracture, now have access to another treatment option as twice yearly injections as Prolia® (denosumab) is now available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
In Australia, more than 510,000 women have osteoporosis, with postmenopausal women at higher risk due to the rapid decline in oestrogen levels following menopause.
Prolia is listed on the PBS for women aged 70 years of age or older with a Bone Mineral Density (BMD) T-score of -3.0 or less.
Prolia is given as an injection under the skin every six months and works by targeting the cells that break down bone (osteoclasts) thereby making bone less susceptible to osteoporotic fractures.
Fractures related to osteoporosis affect one-in-two women over 60 years and can have a significant impact on daily life. About 50% of people with one osteoporotic fracture will have another, and the risk of future fractures rises with each new fracture.
