Giving teriparatide and denosumab together improves bone density

摘要

COMBINING teriparatide (Forsteo) with denosumab (Prolia) increases bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis more than either drug alone, according to research published online in The Lancet this week (15 May 2013). Moreover, the increases seen were greater than have been reported with any recommended therapies, say the investigators. Previous attempts to combine antiresorptive drugs with agents that stimulate the creation of new bone have been unsuccessful, say the researchers. "Our results demonstrate that the combination of denosumab and teriparatide increases bone density more than either individual therapy, most likely because denosumab is able to potently block bone resorption even when given along with a bone-building agent like teriparatide [which has been shown to interfere with the suppression of bone resorption in previous studies].