Once-Yearly Zoledronic Acid for Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

The HORIZON Pivotal Fracture Trial was an international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating whether annual intravenous infusions of zoledronic acid reduce fracture risk in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Involving nearly 7,800 women followed for three years, the trial found that zoledronic acid reduced the risk of morphometric vertebral fracture by 70% and hip fracture by 41% compared with placebo. This trial established once-yearly zoledronic acid as an effective, convenient treatment option for postmenopausal osteoporosis and significantly influenced subsequent bone health guidelines.