Ibandronic acid

Ibandronic acid (INN) or ibandronate sodium (USAN), marketed under the trade names Boniva®, Bondronat® and Bonviva®, is a potent bisphosphonate drug used in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. It may also be used to treat hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium levels).

Indications
Ibandronate is indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Ibandronate was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in May 2003 as a 2.5 mg daily treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. The basis for this approval was a 3-year, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 2,946 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Participants in this study received placebo or oral ibandronate either daily (2.5 mg) or intermittently (20 mg every other day for 12 doses at the start of each 3-month interval). All study participants also received 500 mg of oral calcium and 400 international units of vitamin D daily. At the conclusion of the study, both doses significantly reduced the risk of new vertebral fractures by 50% to 52% when compared to placebo.