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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Alendronic acid vs Denosumab

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Data updated May 2026

Alendronic acid was dispensed 37.2× as often as Denosumab in May 2026 — 401,044 items versus 10,788 in England.

401,044items

Alendronic acid · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

10,788items

Denosumab · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Alendronic acid versus Denosumab: national items dispensed by month

▬ Alendronic acid   ·   ╌ Denosumab

0 240k 481k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Denosumab 401,044 Jan 2021: 459k Feb 2021: 429k Mar 2021: 478k Apr 2021: 462k May 2021: 439k Jun 2021: 468k Jul 2021: 467k Aug 2021: 447k Sep 2021: 464k Oct 2021: 444k Nov 2021: 458k Dec 2021: 481k Jan 2022: 446k Feb 2022: 419k Mar 2022: 470k Apr 2022: 442k May 2022: 458k Jun 2022: 431k Jul 2022: 404k Aug 2022: 448k Sep 2022: 433k Oct 2022: 428k Nov 2022: 435k Dec 2022: 435k Jan 2023: 428k Feb 2023: 394k Mar 2023: 447k Apr 2023: 404k May 2023: 430k Jun 2023: 437k Jul 2023: 426k Aug 2023: 438k Sep 2023: 427k Oct 2023: 431k Nov 2023: 436k Dec 2023: 431k Jan 2024: 439k Feb 2024: 412k Mar 2024: 419k Apr 2024: 431k May 2024: 441k Jun 2024: 410k Jul 2024: 447k Aug 2024: 433k Sep 2024: 419k Oct 2024: 443k Nov 2024: 423k Dec 2024: 434k Jan 2025: 437k Feb 2025: 391k Mar 2025: 414k Apr 2025: 417k May 2025: 431k Jun 2025: 415k Jul 2025: 443k Aug 2025: 408k Sep 2025: 425k Oct 2025: 437k Nov 2025: 401k Dec 2025: 444k Jan 2026: 420k Feb 2026: 386k Mar 2026: 421k Apr 2026: 413k May 2026: 401k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Alendronic acid versus Denosumab, May 2026
Measure Alendronic acid Denosumab
Items, May 2026 401,044 10,788
Items, last 12 months 5,013,652 122,862
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £585,246 £1,911,627

See the full profile for Alendronic acid or Denosumab.