A recent article in the Annals of Oncology discusses how preventive measures can be taken to reduce the occurrence of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in patients taking Zometa. Zometa (zolendronic acid) is a common bisphosphonate (BP) therapy given to treat bone damage due to myeloma, but like other BPs, the medication causes an unwanted side-effect, ONJ.

ONJ occurs when there is a loss of blood supply to the jaw, eventually causing jawbone death. In this study, patients were diagnosed with ONJ if there was exposed bone in the mouth …

Zoledronic acid (INN) or zoledronate (marketed by Novartis under the trade names Zometa, Zomera, Aclasta and Reclast) is a bisphosphonate. Zometa is used to prevent skeletal fractures in patients with cancers such as multiple myeloma and prostate cancer. It can also be used to treat hypercalcemia of malignancy and can be helpful for treating pain from bone metastases. [...]