TY - JOUR

T1 - Status of drug development for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

AU - Schwarz, Peter

AU - Jørgensen, Niklas Rye

AU - Abrahamsen, Bo

PY - 2014/3

Y1 - 2014/3

N2 - INTRODUCTION: The metabolic bone disease osteoporosis is a growing health and health-economic problem worldwide. Bisphosphonates are the most widely used antiresorptive medication and the de facto gold standard in fracture prophylaxis all over the world, in conjunction with calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Several new medications for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis are in the pipeline.AREAS COVERED: The authors present the most recent studies on new and current antiresorptive as well as anabolic drugs. Specifically, the authors present the current knowledge on drugs directed against cathepsin K and sclerostin as well as the new pathways of interest from preclinical studies.EXPERT OPINION: New scientific results have identified novel signaling pathways as potential targets for future development of anti-osteoporotic drugs. The treatments close to marketing at the moment are odanacatib and romosozumab and these are both promising new medications based on bone mineral density results, safety profile and administration. Theoretically, romosozumab may hold the potential to be a drug to 'cure' even advanced stages of osteoporosis with short-term treatment. However, safety, fracture data and cost are key elements that will determine the extent of use.

AB - INTRODUCTION: The metabolic bone disease osteoporosis is a growing health and health-economic problem worldwide. Bisphosphonates are the most widely used antiresorptive medication and the de facto gold standard in fracture prophylaxis all over the world, in conjunction with calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Several new medications for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis are in the pipeline.AREAS COVERED: The authors present the most recent studies on new and current antiresorptive as well as anabolic drugs. Specifically, the authors present the current knowledge on drugs directed against cathepsin K and sclerostin as well as the new pathways of interest from preclinical studies.EXPERT OPINION: New scientific results have identified novel signaling pathways as potential targets for future development of anti-osteoporotic drugs. The treatments close to marketing at the moment are odanacatib and romosozumab and these are both promising new medications based on bone mineral density results, safety profile and administration. Theoretically, romosozumab may hold the potential to be a drug to 'cure' even advanced stages of osteoporosis with short-term treatment. However, safety, fracture data and cost are key elements that will determine the extent of use.

KW - Anabolic Agents

KW - Animals

KW - Antibodies, Monoclonal

KW - Biphenyl Compounds

KW - Bone Density Conservation Agents

KW - Bone Morphogenetic Proteins

KW - Cathepsin K

KW - Drug Design

KW - Genetic Markers

KW - Humans

KW - Osteoporosis

U2 - 10.1517/17460441.2014.884067

DO - 10.1517/17460441.2014.884067

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24490672

VL - 9

SP - 245

EP - 253

JO - Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery

JF - Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery

SN - 1746-0441

IS - 3

ER -