Osterporosis drug and cancer
Health Canada is assessing whether a drug used to treat osteoporosis could increase the risk of cancer.
Calcitonin is prescribed as a nasal spray to treat osteoporosis in post-menopausal women.
Health Canada’s move follows a recommendation by the European Medicines Agency that the use of calcitonin be restricted because evidence suggests the drug may increase the risk of cancer.
There have been no reports of cancer associated with the drug since it was approved in Canada in 1983.
