FDAnews
www.fdanews.com/articles/70420-fda-approves-once-monthly-osteoporosis-drug

FDA Approves Once-Monthly Osteoporosis Drug

March 29, 2005

The FDA has approved a once-monthly version of Boniva tablets, an osteoporosis treatment marketed jointly by Roche and GlaxoSmithKline.

The FDA approved a daily version of Boniva (ibandronate sodium) in 2003, but the companies decided not to launch the drug until it developed a more convenient dosing method. Most rival osteoporosis drugs, such as Merck's Fosamax (alendronate sodium) and sanofi-aventis' Actonel (risedronate sodium), must be taken either daily or weekly.