Current and Emerging Trends in Pharmacological Management of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a multifactorial progressive skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mass and deterioration of bone microarchitecture. Fragility fractures, the consequence of osteoporosis, are responsible for excess mortality, morbidity, chronic pain, admission to hospitals and economic costs. Approximately 1.6 million hip fractures occur each year worldwide, the incidence is set to increase to 6.3 million by 2050. No treatment can completely reverse established osteoporosis. Currently available therapies include bisphosphonates, SERMs, HRT, denosumab, teriperatide, calcitonin and strontium renelate. Cathepsin K inhibitors (balicatib and odanacatib) are among recent drugs under development. Saracatinib is a novel orally available competitive inhibitor of Src kinase shown to inhibit bone resorption in vitro. Lasofoxifene, bazedoxifene, and arzoxifene aren new SERMs in late-stage clinical trials.