Claims for Patent: 6,008,207

Summary for Patent: 6,008,207

Title:	Anhydrous alendronate monosodium salt formulations
Abstract:	Disclosed is a method for treating and preventing bone loss in patients by administering a formulation of anhydrous alendronate sodium. Also described is a pharmaceutical doage form of said anhydrous alendronate sodium, being anhydrous 4-amino-1-hydroxy-butylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid, monosodium salt, in a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
Inventor(s):	Brenner; Gerald S. (Norristown, PA), Ostovic; Drazen (Lansdale, PA), Oberholtzer, Jr.; Earl R. (Hatfield, PA), Thies; J. Eric (Scotch Plains, NJ)
Assignee:	Merck & Co., Inc. (Rahway, NJ)
Application Number:	09/133,200
Patent Claims:	1. A method for treating bone resorption in a mammal in need thereof comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of anhydrous 4-amino-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid monosodium salt in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 2. A method for preventing bone resorption in a mammal in need thereof comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of anhydrous 4-amino-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid monosodium salt in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 3. A method for inhibiting bone resorption in a mammal in need thereof comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of anhydrous 4-amino-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid monosodium salt in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 4. A method for promoting bone growth in a mammal in need thereof comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of anhydrous 4-amino-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid monosodium salt in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.