News Alert: On March 5, 2013, a panel of advisers to the US FDA voted that the benefit of calcitonin salmon, sold in the United States in the popular drug Miacalcin® (manufactured by Novartis) and other products in treating bone-thinning associated with osteoporosis, is outweighed by a potentially higher risk of cancer.

Calcitonin salmon is a man-made version of the hormone calcitonin that is found in salmon, and is often used as a treatment for osteoporosis in post-menopausal women..

Popular calcitonin salmon products include Novartis AG’s Miacalcin as an injection and nasal spray as well as Unigene Laboratories Inc’s nasal spray.  Generic forms of the drug are also available.

The FDA panel also voted to require  that companies developing new calcitonin salmon products to prove their products’ effectiveness in reducing fracture risk.  An earlier FDA review questioned whether calcitonin salmon is effective in reducing fractures.

The US agency follows it European peers, who last July recommended curtailing long-term use of calcitonin salmon products due to  evidence of a small increased cancer risk.  The European agencies found the benefits of calcitonin-containing medicines did not outweigh their risks in treating osteoporosis and they should only be authorized for much more limited circumstances, including the bone short-term use in limited bone and calcium disorders.

Miacalcin Lawsuits

The product liability lawsuits at Slater Slater Schulman LLP are dedicated to the representation of plaintiffs in Miacalcin lawsuits. Our firm is currently investigating Miacalcin cancer injuries nationwide.

If you have been prescribed calcitonin salmon containing drugs or nose sprays (including Miacalcin® or Fortical®) for osteoporosis, you should immediately discuss your concerns with your doctor to determine if your course of treatment should be altered.

If you or someone you love has received a cancer diagnosis after using Miacalcin (or other calcitonin salmon drugs), you should discuss your legal rights with an Miacalcin lawyer.    Contact Slater Slater Schulman LLP today for a free consultation by filling out the form on this page or by calling us at (800) 251-6990.