As per the study published in “Osteoporosis International”, buffered soluble alendronate depicts a cost-effective approach in comparison with relevant alternative therapies for postmenopausal osteoporosis. M. Hiligsmann et al. undertook this study to investigate cost-effectiveness of the buffered soluble alendronate 70 mg effervescent tablet in 360 females (age 60 years and above) suffering from postmenopausal osteoporosis.

A prior authenticated Markov microsimulation model was suitably adjusted to a healthcare setting to assess the lifetime costs (expressed in €2019) per quality-adjusted life-years of buffered soluble alendronate in comparison with generic alendronate, denosumab, zoledronic acid, and no therapy. For bisphosphonate therapies, the pooled efficacy data obtained from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) network meta-analysis were utilized.

Evaluation of two therapy duration scenarios was done: One year utilizing persistence data obtained from a prospective observational analysis incorporating 144 and 216 postmenopausal osteoporotic females on buffered soluble alendronate and oral alendronate, respectively, and three years. The females (age 60–80 years) having a bone mineral density T score ≤ − 3.0 or having existing vertebral fractures were examined.

In comparison with denosumab, the buffered soluble alendronate was dominant (more quality-adjusted life-years, reduced costs) in all the simulated populations. The cost per quality-adjusted life-years gained of buffered soluble alendronate in comparison with generic alendronate and no therapy always falls below €20,000 per quality-adjusted life-years gained. In the one-year treatment scenario, zoledronic acid was linked with more quality-adjusted life-years compared to buffered soluble alendronate.

However, the cost per quality-adjusted life-years gained of zoledronic acid in comparison with buffered soluble alendronate was always greater than €70,000, while buffered soluble alendronate was found to be dominant in the three-year management scenario. Buffered soluble alendronate effervescent tablet seems to be a cost-effective and promising approach compared with relevant alternative therapies, concluded the study authors.