Dr. Charles Chesnut, professor of radiology and medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle, presented results of the study today at the European Congress on Osteoporosis. Calcitonin-salmon, marketed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. as Miacalcin Nasal Spray, is currently indicated for treatment of osteoporosis in women who are more than five years past menopause and for whom estrogen replacement therapy is not an option. There was no increase in side effects overall compared with women receiving placebo. The data confirm the ability of a medicine known to be safe to reduce spinal fractures.
Spinal fractures result in such irreversible changes as loss of height and stooped posture.
However, fractures of the spine and a shrinking frame are not inevitable consequences of aging. Clinical trials have shown that side effects from calcitonin-salmon are comparable to placebo. Because calcitonin is a protein, the possibility of a systemic allergic reaction exists. Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs.