Tools for Practice Outils pour la pratique


#378 Tony Romo-sozumab: Winning touchdown in osteoporosis or interception for the loss?


CLINICAL QUESTION
QUESTION CLINIQUE
What is the efficacy and safety of romosozumab in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis?


BOTTOM LINE
RÉSULTAT FINAL
In a single randomized, controlled trial (RCT) of postmenopausal women with fracture history, romosozumab was more effective than alendronate at reducing major osteoporotic fractures (7% versus 10%) including hip fractures (2% versus 3%) but increased cardiovascular events (0.8% versus 0.3%) at 2.7 years. High cost and potential cardiovascular harm may limit use.



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EVIDENCE
DONNÉES PROBANTES
  • Differences statistically significant unless noted.
  • Efficacy: Two main RCTs of romosozumab 210mg subcutaneous monthly (mean age: 70).1-2
    • Versus alendronate 70mg weekly for 12 months, followed by open-label alendronate for additional 12 months in both groups. 4093 women (96%: vertebral fracture; baseline FRAX ~20%).1 At 24-32 months:
      • Major osteoporotic fractures: 7.1% versus 10% (alendronate), number needed to treat (NNT)=35.
      • Hip fracture: 2.0% versus 3.2% (alendronate), NNT=84.
      • Clinical vertebral fracture: 0.9% versus 2.1% (alendronate), NNT=79.
    • Versus placebo for 12 months, followed by denosumab subcutaneously 60mg every 6 months for one year in both groups. 7180 women with T-score -2.5 to -3.5 at hip/femoral neck (~20% previous fracture, baseline FRAX ~13%) at 12 months: 2
      • Major osteoporotic fracture: 1.1% versus 1.8% (placebo), NNT=143.
      • Hip, non-vertebral fracture: No difference.
      • Vertebral fracture: 0.5% versus 1.8% (placebo), NNT=77.
      • Systematic reviews with additional small RCTs: Similar.3,4
  • Adverse Events: Nine systematic reviews, romosozumab versus placebo.5-13 Most comprehensive review (nine RCTs, 12,796 postmenopausal women):7
    • Injection site reactions: 5.3% versus 2.9% (placebo), number needed to harm (NNH)=44 at 6-12 months.
    • Osteonecrosis of jaw, atypical femur fracture: <1%, no statistical difference.
    • Consistent with other reviews.5,6,8,9,14-16
    • Cardiovascular risk: Focusing on above main RCTs:
      • Cardiac ischemic events:10.8% versus 0.3% (alendronate), NNH=206
        • Not reported in placebo-controlled trial.2
  • Limitations: Industry funded;1-2 few non-vertebral fractures in placebo-controlled RCT;2 no comparisons versus denosumab.

CONTEXT
CONTEXTE
  • Guideline: Consider romosozumab first-line if:14
    • Vertebral fracture (within last two years) with vertebral height loss >40%, or
    • >1 vertebral fracture and T-score ≤-2.5.
  • Duration: Approved for one year, then anti-resorptive agent.14
  • Yearly cost:15,16
    • Romosozumab ~ $8200.
    • Risedronate/alendronate: ~$480.
    • Denosumab: ~$800.


Dale Cole November 24, 2024

Too expensive

Brian Duff November 26, 2024

I don’t think I have any patients willing to spend $8000 to be the one out of 80 to avoid a hip fracture.

Yvan Roy November 28, 2024

Indications limitées.

Ralph Suke November 29, 2024

I agree. Perhaps a bit more effective for fracture reduction but CV issues and cost will limit use. I am not likely to prescribe this.

Huda Alzubaidi February 27, 2025

I guess I will not prescribe it as costly and has cv side effect

Roxane John March 3, 2025

I learned the hard way that MOH will not cover romosozumab if patient has previously been on any other osteoporosis med. So I should not have started risidronate while waiting to see her rheumatologist

Christopher Healy March 16, 2025

agree. way too expensive


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Author(s)
Auteur(s)
  • Steven Piotrowski MSc MPAS CCPA
  • Émélie Braschi MD PhD CCFP
  • Samantha Moe PharmD

1. Saag K, Petersen J, Brandi ML et al. New Engl J Med. 2017; 377:1417-1427.

2. Cosman F, Crittenden DB, Adachi JD, et al. New Engl J Med. 2016; 375:1532-43.

3. Davis S, Simpson E, Hamilton J, et al. Health Technol Assess. 2020; 24(29):1-314.

4. Simpson EL, Martyn-St James M, Hamilton J, et al. Bone. 2020; 130: 115081.

5. Ayers C, Kansagara D, Lazur B, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2023; 176(2): 182-195.

6. Händel MN, Cardoso I, von Bülow C, et al. BMJ. 2023; 381; e068033.

7. Huang W, Nagao M, Yonemoto N, et al. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2023; 32:671-684.

8. Singh S, Dutta S, Khasbage S, et al. Osteoporos Int. 2022; 33(1): 1-12.

9. Kaveh S, Hosseinifard H, Nashmil G, et al. Clin Rheumatol. 2020; 39: 3261-3276.

10. Lv F, Xiaoling C, Wenjia Y, et al. Bone. 2020; 130: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2019.115121.

11. Mariscal G, Nuñez HJ, Bhatia S, et al. Monoclon Antib Immunodiagn Immunother. 2020; 39(2): 29-36.

12. Poutoglidou F, Samolada E, Nikolaos R, et al. J Clin Densitom. 2022; 25:401-415.

13. Tian A, Jia H, Zhu S, et al. Orthop Surg. 2021; 13:1941-1950.

14. Morin S, Feldman S, Funnell L, et al. CMAJ. 2023; 195:E1333-E1348.

15. RxFiles. Osteoporosis. 2024. Available at: https://www.rxfiles.ca/RxFiles/uploads/documents/members/Cht-osteoporosis.pdf. Accessed August 6, 2024.

16. Moe SM, Allan GM. Tools for Practice #282: Osteoporosis treatment for post-menopausal women. Available at: https://cfpclearn.ca/tfp282/ Accessed: August 6, 2024.

Authors do not have any conflicts of interest to declare.