A Study to Evaluate Alendronate Sodium /Vitamin D3 Combination Tablets(FOSAMAX PLUS) Versus Calcitriol in the Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women in China (MK-0217A-264)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01350934 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : May 10, 2011
Results First Posted : July 22, 2014
Last Update Posted : August 24, 2018
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal | Drug: alendronate 70-mg/vitamin D3 5600 IU combination tablet (Fosamax Plus) Drug: Calcitriol Dietary Supplement: Calcium 500 mg | Phase 4 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 219 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A 6-Month, Randomized, Open-Label, Active-Comparator Controlled, Parallel-Group Study With a 6-Month Extension to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Alendronate Sodium 70 mg/Vitamin D3 5600 I.U. Combination Tablets Versus Calcitriol in the Treatment of Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women in China |
Actual Study Start Date : | June 19, 2011 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | January 10, 2013 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | January 10, 2013 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Fosamax Plus
Participants received alendronate 70 mg plus vitamin D3 5600 IU in a combination tablet (FOSAMAX PLUS D) once weekly for 6 months (base study), and then once weekly for another 6 months (extension study).
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Drug: alendronate 70-mg/vitamin D3 5600 IU combination tablet (Fosamax Plus)
one combination tablet once weekly
Other Name: MK-0217A Dietary Supplement: Calcium 500 mg one 500 mg tablet once daily |
Active Comparator: Calcitriol
Participants received calcitriol 0.25 μg once daily orally for 6 months (base study), and then once daily orally for another 6 months (extension study).
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Drug: Calcitriol
0.25 μg once daily orally Dietary Supplement: Calcium 500 mg one 500 mg tablet once daily |
- Base Study: Percentage Change From Baseline in Lumbar Spine Bone Mineral Density (BMD) at Month 6 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Month 6 ]BMD at the lumbar spine was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at baseline and Month 6.
- Extension Study: Percentage Change From Baseline in Lumbar Spine BMD at Month 12 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Month 12 ]BMD at the lumbar spine was assessed by DXA at baseline and Month 12.
- Base Study: Percentage Change From Baseline in Serum Procollagen Type 1 N-Terminal Propeptide (s-P1NP) at Month 6 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Month 6 ]s-P1NP is a biochemical marker of bone turnover that is particularly useful in monitoring bone resorption, a process by which bone is broken down within the body. s-P1NP was measured at baseline and Month 6.
- Base Study: Percentage Change From Baseline in Serum C-Telopeptides of Type 1 Collagen (s-CTx) at Month 6 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Month 6 ]s-CTx is a biochemical marker for bone turnover that has been shown to detect increased bone resorption, a process by which bone is broken down within the body. s-CTx was measured at baseline and Month 6.
- Extension Study: Percentage Change From Baseline in s-P1NP at Month 12 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Month 12 ]s-P1NP is a biochemical marker of bone turnover that is particularly useful in monitoring bone resorption, a process by which bone is broken down within the body. s-P1NP was measured at baseline and Month 12.
- Extension Study: Percentage Change From Baseline in s-CTx at Month 12 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Month 12 ]s-CTx is a biochemical marker for bone turnover that has been shown to detect increased bone resorption, a process by which bone is broken down within the body. s-CTx was measured at baseline and Month 12.
- Extension Study: Percentage of Participants With Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin (OH) D <20 ng/mL at Month 12 [ Time Frame: Baseline and Month 12 ]The term "vitamin D insufficiency" is used to describe vitamin D levels that are low enough to cause secondary hyperparathyroidism, bone loss, and increased risk of skeletal fracture. In this study, a threshold for vitamin D insufficiency was a level of serum 25(OH) D <20 ng/mL.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 56 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Meets one of the following BMD criteria:
- Has BMD T-score ≤-2.5 in at least one of the anatomic sites including lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck, OR
- Has prior non-pathological fragility fracture (of spine, wrist, humerus or clavicle) and BMD T-score ≤-1.5 in at least one of the anatomic sites including lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck sites
- Must have a baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D ≥8 ng/mL (20 nmol/L)
- Is ambulatory
- Has been postmenopausal for at least one year
Exclusion Criteria:
- Has any contraindication to alendronate, including abnormalities of the esophagus which delay esophageal emptying (such as stricture or achalasia), or inability to stand/sit upright for at least 30 minutes, or hypersensitivity to alendronate and vitamin D, or hypocalcemia
- Has any contraindications to calcitriol, and/or vitamin D, including hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, or active kidney stone disease
- Had a prior hip fracture
- Has received treatment with any of the following: anabolic steroid agent within the past 12 months, systemic glucocorticoids for more than 2 weeks in the past 6 months, oral bisphosphonates more than 3 months within the past 2 years, any lifetime use of an intravenous administration of zoledronate, immunosuppressant other than methotrexate, fluoride treatment at a dose greater than 1 mg/day for more than 2 weeks within the past 3 months, strontium containing products for more than 2 weeks within the past 6 months, Parathyroid hormone for more than 2 weeks within the past 3 months, current use of chemotherapy, or heparin, growth hormone for more than 2 weeks within the past 6 months, active hormonal vitamin D analogs (e.g., alphacalcidol, calcitriol) in the past 30 days, or more than 5 days treatment of active hormonal vitamin D analogs between 30 and 60 days prior to study entry., use of vitamin A (excluding beta carotene) >10,000 IU daily, unless willing to discontinue this dose during the study, current use of, lithium, or anti-convulsants, current use of calcium supplement in amount excess of 1500 mg daily, unless willing to discontinue this dose during the study, estrogen with or without progestin within the prior 6 months, Raloxifene or other selective estrogen receptor modulator ([SERM] including tamoxifen), tibolone, or an aromatase inhibitor within the prior 6 months and/or sub-cutaneous calcitonin or intra-nasal calcitonin within the prior 6 months
- Has a history of malignancy within previous 5 years
- Has one or more of the following concomitant conditions: uncontrolled upper gastrointestinal disorders, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke and revascularization condition within 3 months, malabsorption syndrome, uncontrolled primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism, uncontrolled thyroid disease, renal insufficiency, uncontrolled genitourinary, cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, endocrine, hematologic, neurological, psychiatric, or pulmonary diseases; unexplained laboratory test abnormality or other conditions, uncontrolled hypertension, new onset diabetes (within 3 months), poorly controlled hyperglycemia or abnormal fasting glucose, hypoglycemia for any cause, history of, or evidence for metabolic bone disease other than osteoporosis, abnormal serum calcium or phosphate, and/or active renal stone disease when a calcium supplement is contraindicated

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01350934
Study Director: | Medical Director | Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. |
Responsible Party: | Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01350934 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
0217A-264 |
First Posted: | May 10, 2011 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | July 22, 2014 |
Last Update Posted: | August 24, 2018 |
Last Verified: | July 2018 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | https://www.merck.com/clinical-trials/pdf/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf |
URL: | http://engagezone.msd.com/ds_documentation.php |
Osteoporosis Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal Bone Diseases, Metabolic Bone Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Metabolic Diseases Vitamin D Cholecalciferol Alendronate Calcitriol Calcium |
Vitamins Micronutrients Nutrients Growth Substances Physiological Effects of Drugs Calcium-Regulating Hormones and Agents Bone Density Conservation Agents Calcium Channel Agonists Membrane Transport Modulators Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Vasoconstrictor Agents |