Abstract
Professor Studd is correct in his assertion that there was no plenary lecture on estrogens at the National Osteoporosis Society Conference in Manchester. 1 This was not a deliberate omission as is implied; there were no specific plenary lectures on any other individual treatments such as teriparatide, strontium ranelate or even the bisphosphonates. There was, however, a lecture given on treatment of osteoporosis during the Educational Update session. The National Osteoporosis Society have not prevented the companies marketing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) from taking a trade stand as implied – they simply did not wish to do so.
The comments levelled at the members of the conference programme committee in this article are disingenuous, as the issues raised have been discussed at length with Professor Studd at the charity's Medical Board. We would like to make it clear that we are working with Professor Studd and other clinical advisers to ensure that HRT is given the attention it deserves.