Update information
February 2018: The recommendations in this guidance have been updated because strontium ranelate is no longer marketed in the UK.
August 2017: This guidance has been partially updated by NICE's technology appraisal guidance on bisphosphonates for treating osteoporosis.
February 2014: Implementation section updated to clarify that alendronate, etidronate, risedronate, raloxifene and strontium ranelate are recommended as options for the primary prevention of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women.
26 January 2011: NICE has published updated final guidance on preventing osteoporotic fractures following a reconsideration of the use of strontium ranelate for the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women.
In accordance with the Court of Appeal's ruling on the technology appraisals of drugs for the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women, NICE asked the manufacturer of strontium ranelate to submit additional evidence. After having examined this additional evidence on strontium ranelate and an independent expert review of the evidence very carefully, the new independent Appraisal Committee reached the same conclusions as the original Appraisal Committee, and so the recommendations on strontium ranelate remain unchanged from those published originally. Consultees then had a chance to appeal against this decision but no appeals were received.
NICE guidance on the use of alendronate, etidronate, risedronate, raloxifene, strontium ranelate and teriparatide for the prevention and treatment of osteoporotic fragility fractures in postmenopausal women therefore remains unchanged.