BackgroundIndications and benefits

Background
Indications and benefits of bisphosphonate therapy
Intravenous (IV) bisphosphonates are primarily used and effective in the treatment and
management of cancer-related conditions including hypercalcemia of malignancy, skeletalrelated
events associated with bone metastases in the context of solid tumors such as breast
cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer, and management of lytic lesions in the setting of
multiple myeloma.While bisphosphonates have not been shown to improve cancer-specific
survival, they have had a significant positive effect on the quality of life for patients with
advanced cancer involving the skeleton. Before 2001, pamidronate (Aredia®) was the only drug
approved in the United States for treatment of metastatic bone disease. In 2002, zoledronic acid
(Zometa®) was approved for this indication by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
More recently, a once yearly infusion of zoledronate (Reclast®) and a parenteral formulation of
ibandronate (Boniva®) administered every three months have been approved by the FDA for
management of osteoporosis
with BRONJ based on the presenting stage of the disease