[Minodronic acid- its clinical efficacy and prospects for once-a-month dosing regimen].

Minodronic acid has been developed and approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in Japan. It was reported that daily 1 mg minodronate for 24 months reduced the risk of vertebral fractures. It was also reported that minodronic acid suppressed the risk of vertebral fractures in patients aged 75 years or older in the same way as in patients aged less than 75 years. Monthly 50 mg minodronate is now under development for the treatment of osteoporosis in Japan. It is expected that monthly administration would improve medication adherence and, as a result, incidence of fragility fractures will be reduced with the improvement of quality of life in the elderly.