THE INTERPRETATION OF PRECLINICAL DATA IN PREDICTING BISPHOSPHONATE RESPONSE IN THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOPOROSIS

Individual bisphosphonates for the treatment of osteoporosis are often compared on the basis of preclinical variables such as potency, selec tivity, therapeutic index, and effects on fracture healing. The presen t review examines the methodology and results of preclinical studies p roviding these types of data for the bisphosphonate etidronate and com pares them with the available preclinical data for other bisphosphonat es. Analysis of the preclinical data in relation to the results of lon g-term clinical trials reveals that widely reported differences in pre clinical variables for the different bisphosphonates are not significa nt once dosages and treatment regimens have been optimized for therape utic use in the clinic.