Monthly oral ibandronate therapy boosts BMD as well as daily dose.(bone mineral density)(dosage and administration)

WASHINGTON -- A monthly dose of oral ibandronate is at least as safe and as effective at increasing bone mineral density as a daily dose, according to data from a study of more than 1,200 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

The Monthly Oral Ibandronate in Ladies (MOBILE) study, a multinational randomized, double-blind, phase III study of women aged 55-80 years, will continue for 2 years, Michael Bolognese, M.D., explained in a poster presented at an international symposium sponsored by the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Dr. Bolognese and his colleagues presented their 1-year results at the meeting.

A total of 318 women received a 2.5-mg dose of oral ibandronate (Boniva) daily; another 328 women received a 50/50 mg dose (two 50-mg single doses on 2 consecutive days) monthly; 311 received one 100-mg dose monthly; and 320 received one 150-mg dose monthly.

After 1 year, the increase in BMD at the lumbar spine was 3.9% in the daily group, compared with 4.3%, 4.1%, and 4.9% in the groups receiving, respectively, 50/50 mg, 100 mg, and 150 mg monthly.

Increases in the total hip BMD were 2.2% in the daily group, compared with 2.2%, 2.7%, and 3.1% in the 50/50 mg, and monthly groups, respectively.

Similar increases occurred at the femoral neck and hip trochanter.

In addition, all treatment groups demonstrated significant decreases in serum C-terminal cross-linking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), a bone resorption marker that's used to ...