These results confirm that alendronate is a potent inhibitor of bone resorption which exerts beneficial effects in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. It must be borne in mind that the current results relate to clinical trials in ‘ideal’ patients and experience still needs to be gained in treating patients with multiple coexisting problems, who are perhaps more representative of the average patient with osteoporosis. Nonetheless, on the evidence available, alendronate appears to be a promising new addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for osteoporosis.