Zometa, a bisphosphonate drug used to prevent bone metastases in women with breast cancer, was serendipitously found to reduce metastases and extend life by 37%. This translates to 4-5 out of 100 being alive 7 years later. An IV infusion was given every six months for 3 years. Cost is between $1500 and $2500 per injection. All patients were early-stage and had had surgery followed by estrogen blockers and half of the 1800 patients had Zometa and half did not. There were 33 deaths in the treatment group and 49 in the control. Postmenopausal women do not respond to the drug. The drug works best in women with little estrogen.
