• The Wall Street Journal, Friday, December 14, 2007 12 PM

At a big cancer meeting in San Antonio today, scientists will introduce the first of a series of pivotal studies of Amgen's experimental osteoporosis medication, denosumab, known as D-mab. Even if the data are favorable, the twice-yearly injectable drug won't have an easy time becoming the success the company desperately needs.

The new study will evaluate the ability of D-mab to strengthen bones of breast-cancer patients taking hormone blockers that put them at risk for osteoporosis and fractures. But the $7 billion global market for bone-building drugs is crowded. D-mab faces a host of rival drugs already on the market. Among them are Fosamax by Merck, Reclast and Zometa by Novartis, Actonel by Procter & Gamble and Boniva, co-promoted by Roche and GlaxoSmithKline.

Amgen also hopes D-mab can protect bones of prostate-cancer patients on hormone-lowering drugs. Its boldest gamble is a study testing whether it can prevent prostate cancer from spreading to the bones.

Read the whole story at The Wall Street Journal »