Ministry of Health incorporates another drug into the SUS

A osteoporosis It is a chronic disease, characterized by progressive loss of bone mass, which makes bones weakened and, consequently, more susceptible to fractures. In this sense, based on a recently approved Ordinance, a new drug for osteoporosis was incorporated into the SUS. Check out now everything you need to know about this news.

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Profile of people affected by osteoporosis in Brazil

According to the Ministry of Health (MS), osteoporosis is currently the main cause of fractures in the population aged over 50 years. It mainly affects postmenopausal women, although all elderly people are prone to developing it, since age is one of the most important risk factors for this disease.

Ministry of Health includes new drug for osteoporosis in SUS

The Unified Health System (SUS) is responsible for distributing hundreds of medicines to the population, and the newest medicine included in the list was acid zoledronic, which is used in the treatment of osteoporosis for patients who have swallowing difficulties or intolerance to oral bisphosphonates.

A Ordinance was published in the Official Gazette (DOU) last Thursday (21), and is in accordance with the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines of the Ministry of Health. Zoledronic acid should be offered to SUS users within a period of up to 180 days.

Mechanism of action of zoledronic acid

According to information from the National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies (Conitec), which is part of the Ministry of Health, this medicine was included in the list of drugs used to treat osteoporosis available in the SUS due to their high capacity to bind to the bone mineralized.

After being administered, zoledronic acid reaches its peak of action quickly and acts on the bones, inhibiting the existing imbalance between calcium reabsorption and bone remodeling.

What are the other options for osteoporosis medication available in the SUS?

Currently, the SUS already provides vitamin D and calcium, conjugated estrogens, raloxifene, oral bisphosphonates (alendronate and risedronate) and calcitonin (nasal spray) for the treatment of osteoporosis.