In the elderly population, osteoporosis is a significant clinical problem 
leading to disability and even death. Many patients remain untreated, despite 
effective therapies, because of patients' unwillingness to take current 
therapies or inability to tolerate the therapies. For this reason, ongoing 
research continues to search for more effective and tolerable osteoporosis 
agents. Bazedoxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) currently 
in development for osteoporosis prevention and treatment. A new drug application 
(NDA) for postmenopausal osteoporosis prevention was recently submitted to the 
FDA. Preclinical and clinical studies with bazedoxifene demonstrate more tissue 
selectivity than other SERMs. In particular, bazedoxifene has minimal if any 
agonist activity in the uterus and is able to antagonize effects of estrogen on 
the uterus. Animal studies and early clinical studies suggest effects in the 
bone similar to other SERMs with prevention of postmenopausal bone loss. Until 
more data on efficacy and safety are published, however, its role in 
osteoporosis is unknown.