E Ontario Now

New York – Drug manufacture Amgen is reporting that their drug denosumab can prevent bone loss in men with prostate cancer.

In a clinical trial involving 1,400 prostate cancer patients, the drug was able to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, WebMD reports.

Men receiving denosumab also experienced less than half the incidence of new vertebral fractures than those receiving the placebo, Amgen said.

The study involved  patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer, the company said.

“We believe that denosumab has further demonstrated activity in cancer patients. However, we await this agent’s pivotal FREEDOM study (in women with post-menopausal osteoporosis) later this year to answer questions regarding the agent’s utility in that important setting,” Robert W. Baird & Co analyst Christopher Raymond said in a research note.

“We’re excited by the evidence of clinical activity — which is reduction of vertebral fractures,” said Roger Dansey, director of Amgen’s denosumab oncology program.

Amgen shares rose 41 cents to $51.42 in early trading Monday, CNN Money reported.