Fosamax Once Weekly: Added Convenience for Our Leading Osteoporosis Medicine
	How can we extend the benefits of an effective medicine that helps postmenopausal women avoid developing the bone-thinning disease, osteoporosis? We continue to innovate. In its first five years, Fosamax earned the position as the leading medicine in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis. In the U.S. market, the product has maintained close to a 50 percent share, despite the challenge of new competition. One reason is that physicians recognize Fosamax as highly effective for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, especially for the prevention of hip and spine fractures. Several years ago, Merck scientists recognized that a once-weekly formulation of Fosamax might prove to be a more convenient option for some patients than the once-daily formulation. Studies showed that nine out of ten women preferred the once-weekly dosing regimen and physicians have rapidly adopted the regimen, too. The once-weekly innovation put sales of the medicine far ahead of its closest competitor. In many markets almost 80 percent of the business switched to the once-weekly product. We launched Fosamax Once Weekly in some European countries in 2001. We expect a full European roll-out in 2002. Continuing to keep patients first When Merck launched Fosamax, the Company made a strong commitment to educating patients and physicians on appropriate diagnosis and treatment. This required some significant improvements in the available technology and access to Bone Mineral Density (BMD) testing machines. Merck worked with diagnostic manufacturers to help to ensure such technology was available. Merck also worked to educate consumers on the need to have women ask their physicians about osteoporosis and the need for a BMD test. These actions have helped increase the number of women requesting BMD tests and the access to BMD machines. Outside the United States, the Company is working on other ways to help ensure that at-risk women are assessed and identified. One such program involves working with local hospitals to ensure that women admitted for bone fractures are evaluated for osteoporosis and directed to their regular doctors so that this under-diagnosed disease can be appropriately identified and treated. Another promising approach involves simple risk assessment tools that can be used within a physician’s office to discern if a woman is at a high, medium or low risk for osteoporosis and if further assessment is warranted. Many women at risk remain untreated In 2001, sales of Fosamax grew by 38 percent. Its strong business performance is a reflection of the medicine’s value to physicians, patients and payers around the world. However, there is still room for improvement. Fewer than half of the postmenopausal women at risk of osteoporosis have been assessed for the disease and treatment rates are still relatively low. And there are some markets where the product has just been introduced, such as Japan, the world’s second-largest national market. Merck continues to educate health care professionals and consumers regarding the need to aggressively diagnose and treat osteoporosis. While we have used unbranded consumer advertising in the past to heighten awareness about postmenopausal osteoporosis, in 2002 we launched the Company’s first branded direct-to-consumer campaign, encouraging women to ask their physicians about bone density tests and whether Fosamax Once Weekly is right for them. We also have opportunities in other areas of the osteoporosis market. While osteoporosis basically affects women, an estimated 3 million men also have the condition and the FDA recently approved the once-weekly formulation of Fosamax for men. In addition, there are more than 2 million patients at risk for osteoporosis because they are taking a steroid medication.
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