Annual zoledronic acid for osteoporosis.

Zoledronic acid (Aclasta - Novartis) is the first bisphosphonate to be licensed in the UK as a once-yearly intravenous treatment for women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Promotional materials claim that the drug "provides powerful osteoprotection with yearlong compliance", with "significant 3 year fracture reduction at all key sites". Here we consider whether zoledronic acid has a role in the treatment of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis.