Osteoporosis: now and the future
Tilman D Rachner, Sundeep Khosla, Lorenz C Hofbauer, Tilman D Rachner, Sundeep Khosla, Lorenz C Hofbauer
Abstract
Osteoporosis is a common disease characterised by a systemic impairment of bone mass and microarchitecture that results in fragility fractures. With an ageing population, the medical and socioeconomic effect of osteoporosis, particularly postmenopausal osteoporosis, will increase further. A detailed knowledge of bone biology with molecular insights into the communication between bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts and the orchestrating signalling network has led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets. Novel treatment strategies have been developed that aim to inhibit excessive bone resorption and increase bone formation. The most promising novel treatments include: denosumab, a monoclonal antibody for receptor activator of NF-κB ligand, a key osteoclast cytokine; odanacatib, a specific inhibitor of the osteoclast protease cathepsin K; and antibodies against the proteins sclerostin and dickkopf-1, two endogenous inhibitors of bone formation. This overview discusses these novel therapies and explains their underlying physiology.
Conflict of interest statement
Conflict of interest
Tilman Rachner has received reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses from Novartis. Sundeep Khosla has received honoraria for serving on advisory boards for Bone Therapeutics and Pfizer. Lorenz Hofbauer has received honoraria and speakers fees including reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses from Amgen, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck, Novartis, Nycomed, and Servier.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Source: PubMed