We won’t require a discussion of costs in this story because the use of zoledronic acid for early stage breast cancer is still up in the air. However, since the drug is already being sold for other indications, the story would have been better if it had told readers something about the costs of using the drug for approved indications. The article accurately framed the only potential benefit documented by the AZURE study: that it might provide a recurrence and survival advantage among a subgroup of post-menopausal women… and that this results is something to be studied further. The article accurately reported on the incidence of a serious side effect among the women taking zoledronic acid. The article accurately characterized the main conclusions of the study and the results of a secondary subgroup analysis. It also told readers that an earlier trial reached a different conclusion and that other studies are underway, thus helping make clear that these results are just part of a larger picture. The story emphasized—through the quote of an independent expert—that the subgroup analysis indicating older women with early stage breast cancer might get some benefit should lead to further research rather than changing standard practice now. There was no hint of disease-mongering in this article. The article quoted an independent source. It also addressed conflicts-of-interest among the researchers. The story did point out that the women in this trial did receive standard therapy (and it did so more clearly than the other story we reviewed), though it did not specifically say what that treatment entails. We will give the story a satisfactory rating since it is not clear that there is a proven alternative that would provide the type of recurrence and survival benefits seen in a previous study of zoledronic acid for early stage breast cancer. The article did not make it clear that the FDA has not yet approved zoledronic acid as adjunctive treatment for women with early breast cancer. The article made it clear that zoledronic acid is already in use for other applications. The article did not appear to be overly reliant on a news release.
Bone Drug Zometa Flops Overall as Breast Cancer Treatment