Drug stops osteoporosis in its tracks.

EDMONTON - At 75, Anna Harder is a testament to active living and to a drug that a 10-year international study has shown can stop osteoporosis in its tracks.

The study published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine found that post-menopausal woman who take Fosamax, known generically as alendronate sodium, have stronger bones and fewer fractures, and are less likely to lose height.

The study, funded by Merck & Co., the manufacturer of Fosamax, also showed the drug was well-tolerated.

It comes as good news to post-menopausal women who are looking for alternatives to hormone-replacement therapy and are at higher risk of bone loss from osteoporosis. The condition affects one in four women and one in eight men over the age of 50 and causes significant loss of independence in older people........
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