ABSTRACT
I. Osteoporosis — Prevalence and Importance........................ 175
II. Osteoporosis Therapy — Today’s Market ............................ 178
III. Anabolic Therapy — Market Opportunity ........................... 179
IV. PTH Advantages .................................................................... 180
References ......................................................................................... 181
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone, leading to fragility and increased risk of fracture.1 The most common osteoporotic fractures are those of the wrist, hip, and spine (vertebral crush fractures), but fractures can occur in all bones.2 It is often called the silent disease because bone loss occurs without
symptoms until fracturing begins. Everyone will experience some agerelated bone loss, but not everyone will develop osteoporosis. The risk of developing the disease is increased by factors such as sex, race, age, diet, estrogen levels, exercise, smoking, alcohol, and the prolonged use of some medications, particularly glucocorticoids. Genetics is also important because maternal hip fracture is associated with a 100% increase in their daughters’ fracture risk.3 Typically, people may not know that they have osteoporosis until their bones become so weak that a sudden strain such as coughing or stepping out of a car, or a once-minor fall causes a bone to fracture or a vertebra to collapse.
