The rate of total hip replacements was similar in the treatment and placebo groups, with a total of eight patients who had a total hip replacement (three in the placebo group, two each in the 2.5-mg and 5-mg groups, and one in the 10-mg group). These included two patients on tanezumab who had osteonecrosis thought to be related to tanezumab. The authors pointed out that an outside adjudication committee, however, did not confirm osteonecrosis in either patient, and concluded that the reasons for joint replacements in the eight patients were inflammatory arthropathy, end-stage OA, rapidly progressive OA, or worsening OA.
Dr. Altman said that he has consulted with Abbott and its now discontinued program on anti-NGF drugs.