Powerful Osteoporosis Drug
Osteoporosis is a chronic and widespread disease that disrupts the formation of minerals to the bones become brittle, resulting in great pain and increased fractures. This problem increases significantly as the population ages. Arthritis, which involves inflammation of the joints, is another example. Thanks to advances in nanomedicine may develop potential cure or treatment (some already mentioned in a previous post). A therapy capable of increasing the quantity and activity of osteoblasts, bone forming cells, has opened a new door in the treatment of osteoporosis due to its physiological mechanism of action endorsed by several clinical trials.
Spain Osteoporosis affects one in four women over 65. The bone loss that characterizes this disease ends up causing fractures of low-energy trauma, resulting in pain and loss in quality of life. Osteoporotic bone regeneration is a coherent and physiological therapeutic strategy so far has not been used in any of the treatments available, with mechanisms of action focusing exclusively on curbing the bone degeneration.
Now, thanks to biotechnology and recombinant DNA techniques, has designed a molecule capable of stimulating bone-forming cells, osteoblasts, so that is done to restore lost bone mass. So far the available drugs inhibit the activity of bone-destroying cells, osteoclasts, the new molecule, teriparatide, inhibits not only destructive, it increases the activity and amount of the creators of bone.
Teriparatide is based on a fragment of human parathyroid hormone, which is involved in bone metabolism. The drug, indicated in severe osteoporosis, has just received approval in Spain, where the company distributes as Forsteo Lilly.
His marketing is preceded by the results obtained in clinical trials has demonstrated its ability to reduce fracture risk in subjects with severe bone loss. The journal The New England Journal of Medicine published the results of these trials in which teriparatide compared with placebo. The study included 1637 women and 437 men with severe osteoporosis who had suffered a previous fracture.
The results after two years of monitoring showed that treatment for 18 months with the drug reduced the risk of fracture by 65 percent and severe fracture by 90 percent, according to data discussed by Eduardo Collantes, head of Rheumatology Service, University Hospital Reina Sofia, Cordoba. But besides these objective results, participants reported an improvement in their quality of life and pain reduction.
The drug is indicated for severe osteoporosis, a disease that is not a simple bone loss, but represents a more evolutionary grade, according to Collantes. Manuel Munoz, an endocrinologist at the Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, explained that the administration is by subcutaneous injection daily through a pen like that used in diabetes.
The results of clinical trials with teriparatide are based on the effects of daily administration of the drug for 18 months. Once the treatment, patients retain the protective effect, but may require maintenance therapy with other families of drugs such as anti-resorptive, to prevent bone destruction, as commented Manuel Munoz, an endocrinologist at the Hospital San Cecilio, in Granada.
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