What You Should Know About Evenity®

Did you know 1 in 2 women in the US over 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime?  Here’s what you need to know about treatment with Evenity® should you be diagnosed.    

What is Evenity®?

Evenity® is the brand name for romosozumab-aqqg, a drug often used in the treatment of osteoporosis. Evenity® is an anabolic treatment that’s unique in the sense that it is the first and only osteoporosis medication that works in 2 ways; to both build new bone, and to a lesser extent, slows down bone loss at the same time.

On April 9, 2019, Amgen received FDA approval for Evenity® for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk for fracture, defined as a history of osteoporotic fracture, or multiple risk factors for fracture; or patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy.

How it Works

So, how does Evenity® work? It works with the body’s natural ability to increase bone formation and, to a lesser extent, decrease bone resorption.  Evenity® is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds and inhibits sclerostin, a regulatory factor in bone metabolism.  This makes it different from commonly used osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates (such as alendronate, aka Fosamax), which block the osteoclasts that break down bone tissue but don’t cause new bone to form.

What this means to you is that this treatment will not only slow the breakdown of bone in your body, but it will also spur new bone growth equaling less pain and reduced risk of fracture.

How Do You Take Evenity®?

Evenity® is the only bone-building treatment given over 12 months. Each dose consists of 2 shots given under your skin every month at your doctor’s office or at an infusion and injection therapy center like Specialty Infusion Centers!  It is also recommended to take calcium and vitamin D as your doctor advises while you are receiving Evenity® injections.

The 2020 AACE/ACE guidelines state Evenity® should be considered as initial therapy for patients with any of the following: 

• Recent fracture (within the last 12 months)
• Fractures while on osteoporosis therapy
• Multiple fractures
• Fractures while on drugs causing skeletal harm
• T-score < −3.0
• Very high fracture probability
• High risk for falls or history of injurious falls

Side Effects

As with any medication, some patients may experience some side effects. The most common side effects occurring ≥5% of the time or more were joint pain and headache.  Possible more serious side effects include: 

• Serious allergic reactions including rash; hives; swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
• Low calcium levels in your blood (hypocalcemia) which can cause symptoms such as: spasms, twitches, or cramps in your muscles; numbness or tingling in your fingers, toes or around your mouth.
• Severe jaw-bone problems (osteonecrosis) may occur. 
• Unusual thigh bone fractures – symptoms of this type of fracture include new or unusual pain in your hip, groin, or thigh.

Call your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you have symptoms for any of the side effects listed above. 

To get the full benefits of Evenity®, it’s important to complete all 12 doses. After finishing, your doctor may transition you to a follow-up osteoporosis treatment. For more information on what you should know about Evenity®, speak with your medical team. To learn more or start your Evenity® treatment at Specialty Infusion Centers, CLICK HERE.