Bazedoxifene, used as bazedoxifene acetate, is a

medication Medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal product, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to medical diagnosis, diagnose, cure, treat, or preventive medicine, prevent disease. Drug therapy (pharmaco ...

for

bone A bone is a rigid organ that constitutes part of the skeleton in most vertebrate animals. Bones protect the various other organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, store minerals, provide structure and support for the body, ...

problems and possibly (pending more study) for cancer. It is a third-generation

selective estrogen receptor modulator Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), also known as estrogen receptor agonists/antagonists (ERAAs), are a class of drugs that act on estrogen receptors (ERs). Compared to pure ER agonists–antagonists (e.g., full agonists and silent ...

(SERM). Since late 2013 it has had U.S.

FDA The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a federal agency of the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of food ...

approval for bazedoxifene as part of the

combination drug A combination drug is a combination of two or more pharmaceutical drugs as active ingredients combined into a single dosage form, typically as a ''fixed-dose combination'', with each constituent standardized to specifications of a fixed dose. Fix ...

Duavee in the prevention (not treatment) of

postmenopausal Menopause, also known as the climacteric, is the time when menstrual periods permanently stop, marking the end of the reproductive stage for the female human. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, although the exact timing can ...

osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass, micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to more porous bone, and consequent increase in Bone fracture, fracture risk. It is the most common reason f ...

. It is also being studied for possible treatment of

breast cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...

and

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of ...

Medical uses

Bazedoxifene is used in the prevention of

. Osteoporosis represents a major public health concern, especially as the number of postmenopausal women continues to rise. As a result, the need for innovative treatments has become increasingly important. Bazedoxifene (BZA) has emerged as a promising option for postmenopausal osteoporosis due to its demonstrated effectiveness in reducing bone loss and fractures, as well as its strong safety and tolerability profile. For women who cannot or prefer not to use bisphosphonates, owing to gastrointestinal side effects, safety risks, or contraindications, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) like BZA may serve as a suitable alternative. SERMs may also benefit younger women who are at higher risk of fractures and require long-term treatment. Furthermore, BZA has been paired with conjugated estrogens (TSEC) for both osteoporosis prevention and the management of menopausal symptoms. Given its positive safety record and efficacy in preventing fractures, BZA is becoming an increasingly important option within the current landscape of osteoporosis therapies.

Available forms

Bazedoxifene is marketed both alone and in combination with

conjugated estrogens Conjugated estrogens (CEs), or conjugated equine estrogens (CEEs), sold under the brand name Premarin among others, is an estrogen medication which is used in menopausal hormone therapy and for various other indications. It is a mixture of th ...

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Bazedoxifene is a

(SERM), or a mixed

agonist An agonist is a chemical that activates a Receptor (biochemistry), receptor to produce a biological response. Receptors are Cell (biology), cellular proteins whose activation causes the cell to modify what it is currently doing. In contrast, an R ...

and

antagonist An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the main enemy or rival of the protagonist and is often depicted as a villain.estrogen receptor Estrogen receptors (ERs) are proteins found in cell (biology), cells that function as receptor (biochemistry), receptors for the hormone estrogen (17β-estradiol). There are two main classes of ERs. The first includes the intracellular estrogen ...

(ER) in different tissues.

Chemistry

The drug is a member of the 2-phenylindole group of SERMs, along with zindoxifene and pipendoxifene.

History

Approval

The drug was approved in the European Union by the

European Medicines Agency The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is an agency of the European Union (EU) in charge of the evaluation and supervision of pharmaceutical products. Prior to 2004, it was known as the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products ...

on April 27, 2009.

Society and culture

Brand names

Bazedoxifene is marketed alone under the brand names Conbriza and Viviant and in combination with

under the brand names Duavee and Duavive.

References

{{Other sex hormones and modulators of the genital system Azepanes Indoles Phenol ethers 4-Hydroxyphenyl compounds Selective estrogen receptor degraders Selective estrogen receptor modulators Drugs developed by Pfizer