Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Alendronate is a bisphosphonate: it binds to bone and slows the osteoclasts that break bone down, so bone density is kept or improves and fractures become less likely. It is taken as a weekly tablet for osteoporosis, including that caused by long-term steroid use, and for Paget's disease of bone. It is sold as Fosamax and Binosto, among other names.
Alendronate is not broken down; what is not taken up into bone is cleared by the kidneys. Studies have looked at genes of bone turnover for how much bone density improved, such as TNFRSF11A (the RANK receptor), the vitamin D receptor VDR and MVK in the pathway alendronate blocks. The findings come from a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.
Every published finding on gene variants and Alendronate. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
VDR rs1544410: Level 3. Efficacy: Osteoporosis. 2.
MVK rs10161126: Level 3. Efficacy: Bone Diseases. 1.
Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Bisphosphonates (class) (Bisphosphonates)
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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