Bisphosphonates are used to treat osteoporosis and other disorders of bone resorption. A new generation of lipophilic bisphosphonates has been designed to target cancer; one such agent, BPH-1222, a zoledronic acid analogue, has demonstrated efficacy against lung adenocarcinoma.

According to research in Science Translational Medicine, BPH-1222 was significantly more effective than the most potent standard bisphosphonate in killing tumour cells with KRAS mutations both in vitro and in a mouse model.