Drug maker Merck & Co. on Tuesday said a mid-stage trial of an osteoporosis drug in women with breast cancer reduced the breakdown of bone.
Patients treated with the drug, odanacatib, showed a 77 percent reduction from baseline in bone breakdown compared to 73 percent of those treated with Novartis AG's Zometam, Merck said. Women with breast cancer are often susceptible to cancer spreading to bones, a condition known as bone metastases
Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based Merck said that results from the trial would be presented June 3 at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference.
Merck added that it would conduct late-stage studies of odanacatib in both breast and prostate cancer based on the results.
Odanacatib is already in late-stage trials for the treatment of osteoporosis.
Shares of Merck rose 42 cents to $39.16 in morning trading.
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