Effect on Bone Mineral Density

Compared with placebo, the increases in BMD for each of the three studies were statistically significant at 12 months and were maintained at 24 months (see Table 6). The placebo groups lost approximately 1% of BMD over 24 months.

Table 6: EVISTA- (60 mg Once Daily) Related Increases in BMD^a for the Three Osteoporosis Prevention Studies Expressed as Mean Percentage Increase vs. Placebo^b at 24 Months^c

EVISTA also increased BMD compared with placebo in the total body by 1.3% to 2.0% and in Ward's Triangle (hip) by 3.1% to 4.0%. The effects of EVISTA on forearm BMD were inconsistent between studies. In Study EU, EVISTA prevented bone loss at the ultradistal radius, whereas in Study NA, it did not (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Total hip bone mineral density mean percentage change from baseline

Effect on Endometrium

In placebo-controlled osteoporosis prevention trials, endometrial thickness was evaluated every 6 months (for 24 months) by transvaginal ultrasonography (TVU). A total of 2978 TVU measurements were collected from 831 women in all dose groups. Placebo-treated women had a 0.04 mm mean increase from baseline in endometrial thickness over 2 years, whereas the EVISTA-treated women had a 0.09 mm mean increase. Endometrial thickness measurements in raloxifene-treated women were indistinguishable from placebo. There were no differences between the raloxifene and placebo groups with respect to the incidence of reported vaginal bleeding.

Effects on Breast

Mammograms were routinely performed on an annual or biennial basis in all placebo-controlled clinical trials lasting at least 12 months. Independent review has determined that 25 cases (raloxifene and placebo combined) represented newly diagnosed invasive breast cancer. Among 7108 women randomized to raloxifene, there were 10 cases of invasive breast cancer per 19,381 person-years of follow-up (0.52 per 1000). Among 3467 women randomized to placebo, there were 15 cases of invasive breast cancer per 9250 person-years of follow-up (1.62 per 1000). The effectiveness of raloxifene in reducing the risk of breast cancer has not been established.

Effects on Cardiovascular Disease

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multinational clinical trial of 10,101 postmenopausal women with documented coronary heart disease or at increased risk for coronary events, no cardiovascular benefit was demonstrated after treatment with EVISTA 60 mg once daily for a median follow-up of 5.6 years. No significant increase or decrease was observed for coronary events (death from coronary causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or hospitalization for an acute coronary syndrome). An increased risk of death due to stroke after treatment with EVISTA was observed: 59 (1.2%) raloxifene-treated women died due to a stroke compared to 39 (0.8%) placebo-treated women (2.2 versus 1.5 per 1000 women-years; hazard ratio 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.00-2.24; p=0.0499). The incidence of stroke did not differ significantly between treatment groups (249 with EVISTA [4.9%] versus 224 with placebo [4.4%]; hazard ratio 1.10; 95% confidence interval 0.92-1.32; p=0.30; 9.5 versus 8.6 per 1000 women-years) [see Warnings and PRECAUTIONS].

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