New osteoporosis drug

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved Eladynos (abaloparatide) for routine use in the NHS, potentially benefiting over 14,000 postmenopausal women in England at risk of osteoporosis-related fractures. This new treatment option comes amid concerns about NHS diagnostic capacity, which could affect access to the drug. Abaloparatide, which is administered via a daily self-injection, offers an alternative for patients who do not respond to existing treatments like romosozumab and teriparatide. Osteoporosis currently affects around 3.8 million people in the UK and is linked to over half a million fractures annually, incurring substantial healthcare costs. NICE's decision has been welcomed by patient advocacy groups, emphasizing the significant impact of osteoporosis on quality of life. Additionally, in a separate development, Levicept has achieved positive results in a Phase 2 trial for its osteoarthritis drug LEVI-04, which shows promise in reducing pain without hindering cartilage repair.