A Study to Examine the Effects of an Experimental Drug on Postmenopausal Osteoporosis (MK-0822-004)

Inclusion Criteria: Postmenopausal for 5 or more years, defined as no menses for at least 5 years OR at least 5 years status post bilateral oophorectomy Bone mineral density T-score at the hip or spine of -2.0 or less Spinal anatomy suitable for dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). At the lumbar spine, there is no evidence of vertebral fracture in at least 3 vertebrae in the L1 to L4 region on baseline spine films. (Significant scoliosis, bony trauma, degenerative joint disease, and sequelae of orthopedic procedures that result in anatomy that is unsuitable for accurate bone densitometry must be absent from the lumbar spine.) At least one hip must be evaluable by DXA (e.g., contain no hardware from orthopedic procedures) In a state of general health allowing for successful completion of the trial Agreement to not use any medications to treat osteoporosis during the study Exclusion Criteria: History of prior osteoporotic fracture (unless declined treatment with or was ineligible for osteoporosis therapy) Past treatment with osteoporosis medications, steroids, hormone replacement, as well as various other medications that affect bone may be exclusionary. (Different exclusion criteria apply to each bone active drug. For example, any prior use of intravenous (IV) bisphosphonates is not permitted. By contrast, prior use of hormone replacement for several years is permitted if it has not occurred within the past 6 months. Please ask the study doctor for details) Significant clinical or laboratory abnormalities at the screening visit for the study that, in the opinion of the investigator, could complicate interpretation of the study results or pose additional risk to the patient (for example, patients who are non-ambulatory should be excluded for this reason)