Teriparatide

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Teriparatide (Forteo®) is a recombinant form of parathyroid hormone, used in the treatment of advanced osteoporosis.

1 Administration
2 Uses
3 Mechanism of action
4 FDA approval
- 4.1 References
- 4.2 External links

[edit] Administration

Teriparatide is administered by injection once a day in the thigh or abdomen. The recommended dose is 20 μg per day.

[edit] Uses

Teriparatide is a third-line agent in osteoporosis, after calcium/vitamin D supplementation and bisphosphonates. The bisphosphonates are effective in a large majority of osteoporosis patients, and only a minority would normally require teriparatide.

More recently, it has been given to patients in an ongoing clinical trial to evaluate its effectiveness in treating the symptoms of osteogenesis imperfecta.^[1]

[edit] Mechanism of action

Teriparatide is the portion of human parathyroid hormone (PTH),amino acid sequence 1 through 34 of the complete molecule which contains amino acid sequence 1 to 84. Endogenous PTH is the primary regulator of calcium and phosphate metabolism in bone and kidney. Daily injections of teriparatide stimulate new bone formation leading to increased bone mineral density.

Teriparatide is the first FDA approved agent for the treatment of osteoporosis that stimulates new bone formation.

[edit] FDA approval

Teriparatide was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 26 November 2002, for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who are at high risk for having a fracture. The drug is also approved to increase bone mass in men with primary or hypogonadal osteoporosis who are at high risk for fracture.