The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given an approval for a new medicine for osteoporosis. This drug is Amgen’s Prolia, which prevents fractures in women after the menopause. The medicine is as effective as the other drugs like bisphosphonates, Actonel, Boniva , Reclast and Fosamax.

According to the doctors, Prolia provides a good substitute for the patients who can’t take bisphosphonates.

"This was somewhat of a breakthrough in that it's a completely different mechanism and a completely different chemical compound", says Dr. Aurelia Nattiv as she directs the UCLA Osteoporosis Center.

Though, the manufacturers have claimed Prolia to be a better drug for osteoporosis, its suitability and serious side effects are yet to be worked upon. Therefore, the possibility of replacing bisphosphonates, is not confirmed. Bisphosphonates are very old drugs for osteoporosis and are present in the U.S. market, since 1995.

Prolia is a complexed biological molecule. This drug was specially planned to inactivate a protein in the body, which is connected to bone metabolism.

About 10 million Americans are expected to have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis makes bones weaker and this disease is detected through the tests for bone mineral density tests.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, 50% women aged 50 or older will have osteoporosis. In case of men, the Institute said that one fourth of men will have this disease in future.