FDA Panel Recommends Approval Of Eli Lilly's Osteoporosis Drug Evista To Prevent Breast Cancer

An FDA advisory panel on Tuesday voted in favor of recommending that Eli Lilly's bone-strengthening drug raloxifene, sold under the brand-name Evista, be approved to reduce the risk of breast cancer in some women, the Wall Street Journal reports (Corbett Dooren, Wall Street Journal, 7/25).
FDA in 1997 approved Evista to help prevent osteoporosis and in 1999 approved it to treat the disease. Tamoxifen, which blocks the production of estrogen, is the only FDA-approved drug for reducing breast cancer risk, but it increases risk for uterine cancer and blood clots. Raloxifene, which also blocks estrogen production, has been shown to be as effective as tamoxifen at reducing breast cancer risk, though it increases risk of hot flashes and other menopause-related symptoms.