Eli Lilly and Co. is sponsoring the research. Raloxifene is in a class of new drugs called selective estrogen receptor modulators approved by the Food and Drug Administration for preventing postmenopausal osteoporosis. We are particularly excited about this research study because of the possibility that one compound could help prevent osteoporosis and heart disease in postmenopausal women and not put them at risk for breast or uterine cancer.
Heart disease is the leading killer of women in America and other developed nations.
Wenger and Emory co-investigator Sally McNagny, associate professor of medicine, hope to enroll 100 women in the Atlanta study site. Qualified participants should be age 55 or older, have coronary disease or be at high risk for its occurrence, and should not have been on hormone replacement therapy for at least six months. Volunteers will be asked to visit Emory Clinic every six months for about five to seven years. All exams, tests and medications associated with the study will be provided at no cost.