A novel drug may help treat osteoporosis, a study shows

A new form of drug used to treat osteoporosis that comes with the potential for fewer external side effects may give patients a new choice.

The work is supported by the National Institutes of Health and is published in Iris Biophysical.

Purdue University innovators developed a stable form of human calcitonin, which is a peptide drug already used for people with osteoporosis. Researchers at Purdue created a prodrug form of the hormone peptide to increase its effectiveness as an osteoporosis treatment.

In humans, calcitonin is the hormone responsible for normal calcium homeostasis. When prescribed to osteoporosis patients, calcitonin inhibits bone resorption, leading to increased bone mass.

Unfortunately, human calcitonin undergoes fibrillation in aqueous solution, resulting in reduced efficacy when used as a drug. As a surrogate, osteoporosis patients are prescribed salmon calcitonin. It does not fibrillate as quickly but suffers from low strength and the potential for a number of adverse effects.

The technology can help make these calcitonin drugs safer and more effective. Our approach enhances the therapeutic potential of human calcitonin, promising a more effective alternative to salmon calcitonin for osteoporosis and related disorders. “

Elizabeth Topp, Professor of Physical and Business Pharmacy, Purdue University

To reduce the tendency of fibrillation and increase the therapeutic benefit of human calcitonin, Purdue researchers made phosphorylated specific amino acid residues.

“A lot of promising new drugs tend to form fibrils,” Topp said. “This technology provides a way to stabilize them in an adaptable way so that the stable modification occurs when the drug is administered to the patient.”