Researchers have shown that a naturally occurring peptide (small protein) holds promise as a new therapeutic for osteoporosis and other disorders that feature bone loss, with distinct advantages over existing drugs.
Researchers have shown that a naturally occurring peptide holds promise as a new therapeutic for osteoporosis and other disorders that feature bone loss, with distinct advantages over existing drugs.
Bone is constantly formed, reformed, and remodelled throughout life, and up to 10% of human bone is replaced annually through a complex interplay between two cell types -- osteoblasts, which form bone, and osteoclasts, which breakdown bone. Disturbances to this tightly orchestrated process are responsible for features of diseases such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis, which show excessive bone breakdown, or ankylosing spondylitis, where abnormal bone growth occurs.
PEPITEM is a naturally occurring short protein produced in the body and found circulating in everyone at low levels. These findings were underscored by studies using human bone tissue, harvested from older patients during joint surgery. These studies showed cells from older individuals respond to PEPITEM, significantly increasing the maturation of osteoblasts, and their ability to produce and mineralise bone tissues.
Dr Helen McGettrick said:"While the most commonly used drugs, bisphosphonates, work by blocking the action of osteoclasts, PEPITEM acts by swinging the balance in favour of bone formation, without impacting the ability of osteoclasts to resorb regions of damaged or weak bone tissue via normal bone remodelling."
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