Background to AOCMF ARONJ Clinical Priority Program (CPP)
Bisphosphonates (Alendronate, Zolendronate, Pamidronate and others) and additional anti-osteoclastic drugs such as RANKL inhibitors (Denosumab) are among the most prescribed drugs in the world today. 26 million prescriptions for Alendronate in the US alone are used for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and 250,000 patients with metastatic bone cancer are treated with high dose intravenous bisphosphonates. These drugs have been noted to have profound influences on oral and orthopedic health including exacerbation of dental diseases, osteonecrosis of the jaw requiring ablation, spiral fractures of the femur, bone pain, and spinal and other foramenal stenosis, are some of the areas of impact associated with anti-osteoclastic drugs. These medications have also been associated with a marked decrease in femoral neck fractures, compression fractures of the spine and other osteoporotic fractures such as wrist and humerus.
AOCMF launched a CPP program sponsoring research projects to investigate on the field of ARONJ and is now excited to share first interim results.