Prof Allan Lipton speaks about three studies comparing the use of denosumab with traditional bisphosphonate based therapy for cancer patients with bone metastases. Denosumab is an antibody which targets a molecule which stimulates oesteoblasts. Patients treated with this drug experienced a lower number of skeletal related events, reduction in pain levels and increased quality of life. Prof Lipton compares the level of side effects in patients treated with denosumab with those of patients treated with zoledronic acid and summarises how he hopes this drug will affect clinical practice.