(August 20, 2009 - Insidermedicine) A new drug known as denosumab appears to reduce the risk of fracture among women with osteoporosis, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here is some information about osteoporosis:

•    It is a condition in which bone mass is reduced or bone tissue is deteriorated

•    It is associated with an increase in bone fragility and risk of fracture

•    It often causes no symptoms, until a fracture occurs and causes pain

Researchers from the University of California at San Francisco randomly assigned nearly 8,000 women with osteoporosis to treatment with denosumab every six months for three years or a placebo.

Compared with those who received a placebo, women taking denosumab were 68% less likely to experience a new vertebral fracture, 40% less likely to have a hip fracture, and 20% less likely to have a fracture anywhere other than the vertebrae.

Today's research suggests that the new drug denosumab may be useful for preventing fractures among women with osteoporosis.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.