Amgen, a biotechnology company, and UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, announced top-line results from the phase 3 placebo-controlled FRActure study in postmenopausal woMen with ostEoporosis (FRAME). These data showed FRAME met the co-primary endpoints by reducing the incidence of new vertebral fracture through months 12 and 24 in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis treated with romosozumab. The study also met the secondary endpoint of reducing the incidence of clinical fractures (composite of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis through 12 months. However, the secondary endpoint of reducing the incidence of non-vertebral fractures through months 12 and 24 was not met.

"A vertebral fracture due to osteoporosis can be a life-altering event, and the risk of these kinds of fractures will be a growing burden as our society ages," said Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "These data show that romosozumab reduced new vertebral fracture risk as soon as 12 months."

Results from the FRAME study showed that women receiving subcutaneous injection of romosozumab monthly experienced a statistically significant 73 percent reduction in the relative risk of a vertebral (spine) fracture through 12 months compared to those receiving placebo. The effect size persisted after both groups were transitioned to denosumab through the second year of treatment. Specifically, through month 24, romosozumab followed by denosumab reduced the relative risk of new vertebral fracture by a statistically significant 75 percent compared to placebo followed by denosumab. Additionally, patients receiving romosozumab experienced a statistically significant 36 percent reduction in the relative risk of a clinical fracture through 12 months compared to those receiving placebo.

"These data are encouraging and in meeting the co-primary endpoints of this study, romosozumab has shown to be effective in reducing the incidence of new vertebral fractures at months 12 and 24 and for clinical fractures as early as 12 months," said Professor Dr. Iris Loew-Friedrich, chief medical officer and executive vice president, UCB. "Deeper understanding of the results will help us to sharpen the profile of romosozumab in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis."

The percentage of patients with adverse events and serious adverse events in the 12-month double-blind period and 24-month study period were balanced overall between the treatment groups. In the initial 12-month treatment period, the most commonly reported adverse events in both arms (greater than 10 percent) were arthralgia, nasopharyngitis and back pain. Injection site reactions were reported in 5.2 percent of patients in the romosozumab treatment group and 2.9 percent in the placebo group during the 12-month period. Most injection site reactions were reported as mild in severity. Substudies evaluating hearing loss and worsening of knee osteoarthritis showed no difference between the treatment groups. There were two positively adjudicated events of osteonecrosis of the jaw in the romosozumab treatment group, one after completing romosozumab dosing and the other after completing romosozumab treatment and receiving the initial dose of denosumab. There was one positively adjudicated event of atypical femoral fracture after three months of romosozumab treatment.

FRAME is a phase 3 multi-center, international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to assess the efficacy and safety of romosozumab treatment in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The study evaluated 12 months of romosozumab treatment versus placebo followed by 12 months of open-label denosumab treatment for both arms.The purpose of this study was to determine if treatment with romosozumab is effective in reducing the risk of fracture in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis through months 12 and 24.

Further analysis of the phase 3 FRAME study data is ongoing and will be submitted to a future medical conference and for publication. UCB and Amgen plan to discuss these results with global regulators in anticipation of a potential filing in 2016.

Romosozumab is an investigational bone-forming monoclonal antibody and is not approved by any regulatory authority for the treatment of osteoporosis. It is designed to work by inhibiting the protein sclerostin, and has a dual effect on bone, both increasing bone formation and decreasing bone breakdown. Romosozumab is being studied for its potential to reduce the risk of fractures in an extensive global phase 3 programme. This programme includes two large fracture trials comparing romosozumab to either placebo or active comparator in more than 10,000 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Amgen and UCB are co-developing romosozumab.

FRAME is a multi-center, international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, defined as low bone mineral density at the total hip or femoral neck. The study evaluated the effectiveness of romosozumab treatment, compared with placebo, in reducing the risk of new vertebral fractures through 12 months. The study also further evaluated if romosozumab treatment for 12 months followed by denosumab treatment for 12 months, compared with placebo followed by denosumab treatment, was effective in reducing the risk of new vertebral fractures through 24 months. In addition, clinical fracture (a composite endpoint of symptomatic vertebral and non-vertebral fractures) risk reduction, non-vertebral fracture (fractures outside of the spine, excluding sites that are not considered osteoporotic, fractures due to high trauma or pathologic fractures) risk reduction and other endpoints were assessed at 12 and 24 months.

7,180 patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either 210 mg romosozumab subcutaneous (SC) monthly (QM) or placebo SC QM for the 12-month double-blind study period. After the placebo-controlled study period, patients entered the open-label phase where all patients received 60 mg denosumab SC every six months (Q6M) for 12 months, while remaining blinded to initial treatment. An additional 12 month extension period of open-label 60 mg denosumab SC Q6M is currently ongoing.

Prolia is the first approved therapy that specifically targets RANK Ligand, an essential regulator of bone-removing cells (osteoclasts).

Prolia is approved in the US for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture, defined as a history of osteoporotic fracture, or multiple risk factors for fracture; or patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy. Prolia is also approved for treatment to increase bone mass in men with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture, defined as a history of osteoporotic fracture, or multiple risk factors for fracture; or patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy.

Prolia is also indicated as a treatment to increase bone mass in women at high risk for fracture receiving adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer and in men at high risk for fracture receiving androgen deprivation therapy for non-metastatic prostate cancer.

Prolia is administered as a single subcutaneous injection of 60 mg once every six months.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), which can occur spontaneously, is generally associated with tooth extraction and/or local infection with delayed healing, and has been reported in patients receiving Prolia. An oral exam should be performed by the prescriber prior to initiation of Prolia. A dental examination with appropriate preventive dentistry is recommended prior to treatment in patients with risk factors for ONJ such as invasive dental procedures, diagnosis of cancer, concomitant therapies (e.g. chemotherapy, corticosteroids, angiogenesis inhibitors), poor oral hygiene, and co-morbid disorders. Good oral hygiene practices should be maintained during treatment with Prolia.

For patients requiring invasive dental procedures, clinical judgment should guide the management plan of each patient. Patients who are suspected of having or who develop ONJ should receive care by a dentist or an oral surgeon. Extensive dental surgery to treat ONJ may exacerbate the condition. Discontinuation of Prolia should be considered based on individual benefit-risk assessment.

Atypical low-energy, or low trauma fractures of the shaft have been reported in patients receiving Prolia. Causality has not been established as these fractures also occur in osteoporotic patients who have not been treated with anti-resorptive agents.

In a clinical trial (N = 7808) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, serious infections leading to hospitalization were reported more frequently in the Prolia group than in the placebo group. Serious skin infections, as well as infections of the abdomen, urinary tract and ear, were more frequent in patients treated with Prolia.

Endocarditis was also reported more frequently in Prolia-treated patients. The incidence of opportunistic infections and the overall incidence of infections were similar between the treatment groups. Advise patients to seek prompt medical attention if they develop signs or symptoms of severe infection, including cellulitis.

In the same clinical trial in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, epidermal and dermal adverse events such as dermatitis, eczema and rashes occurred at a significantly higher rate with Prolia compared to placebo. Most of these events were not specific to the injection site.

Severe and occasionally incapacitating bone, joint, and/or muscle pain has been reported in patients taking Prolia. In clinical trials in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, Prolia resulted in significant suppression of bone remodeling as evidenced by markers of bone turnover and bone histomorphometry. The significance of these findings and the effect of long-term treatment are unknown. Monitor patients for consequences, including ONJ, atypical fractures, and delayed fracture healing.

The most common adverse reactions (>5 percent and more common than placebo) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis are back pain, pain in extremity, musculoskeletal pain, hypercholesterolemia, and cystitis.

The most common adverse reactions (> 5 per cent and more common than placebo) in men with osteoporosis are back pain, arthralgia, and nasopharyngitis. Pancreatitis has been reported with Prolia.

In women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, the overall incidence of new malignancies was 4.3 per cent in the placebo group and 4.8 per cent in the Prolia groups. In men with osteoporosis, new malignancies were reported in no patients in the placebo group and 4 (3.3 per cent) patients in the Prolia group. A causal relationship to drug exposure has not been established. Denosumab is a human monoclonal antibody. As with all therapeutic proteins, there is potential for immunogenicity.