A study by Prof Gareth J Morgan et al reports that  first line treatment with zoledronic acid not only prevents skeletal events but also has antimyeloma effects. The study has been published in Lancet, December issue.

Zoledronic acid is a drug  that belongs to bisphosphonates group. Bisphosphonates have been used to reduce the risk of skeletal events in patients with malignant bone disease. The present study was a randomized controlled trial between zoledroninc acid and colodronic acid, another bisphosphonate.

In the study, patients of age 18 years or older with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were enrolled from 120 centres in the UK. Computer-generated randomisation sequence was used to allocate patients equally, via an automated telephone service, to receive 4 mg zoledronic acid as an infusion every 3–4 weeks or 1600 mg oral clodronic acid daily. [Read more...]