Osteoporosis drug under microscope

A RESEARCH project worth £700,000 has been launched in Edinburgh to test the impact of osteoporosis drugs.

Scientists from Edinburgh University will look to recruit hundreds of patients from across the Capital to participate in the scheme.

The project's focus will be the alendronate drug and how it affects the healing process of someone with the condition who has broken a bone.

Arthritis Research UK - which is funding the project - said while the drug was widely used, little was known of its consequences.

Stuart Ralston, professor of rheumatology at the university, said: "If we find that alendronate has a negative effect on fracture healing, this could be important, as a patient might need to stop taking the drug after a fracture, and re-start only after the fracture is healed.

"Drugs such as this are commonly used, but little is known about their effects."