Alendronate therapy to prevent loosening of, or pain associated with, orthopedic implant devices

• US 5,646,134 A
• Filed: 04/21/1994
• Issued: 07/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corporation (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Yates, Ashley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Criares, Theodore J.
• Application Number:
  US08/230,670
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 514/108
• US Class Current: 514/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/66 Phosphorus compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/663 Compounds having two or more phosphorus acid groups or esters thereof, e.g. clodronic acid, pamidronic acid
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/675 having nitrogen as a ring hetero atom, e.g. pyridoxal phosphate
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/00 Drugs for skeletal disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/08 for bone diseases, e.g. rachitism, Paget's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/10 for osteoporosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

Disclosed is a therapy for treating and for preventing periprosthetic bone loss by the administration of a bisphosphonate bone resorption inhibitor, e.g., alendronate, in patients who have an orthopedic implant device.

Claims

1. A method of preventing loosening of an orthopedic prosthesis in a patient comprising administering orally to the patient a bone resorption inhibiting amount of alendronate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is alendronate monosodium trihydrate.

3. A method of preventing loosening of a hip prosthesis in a patient comprising orally administering to the patient 6.55 mg or 13.05 mg alendronate monosodium trihydrate daily.

4. A method of preventing pain associated with loosening of an orthopedic prosthesis in a patient comprising administering to the patient a bone resorption inhibiting amount of alendronate or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is alendronate monosodium trihydrate.

6. A method of preventing pain associated with the loosening of a hip prosthesis in a patient comprising orally administering to the patient 6.55 mg or 13.05 mg alendronate monosodium trihydrate daily.