Sclerostin Inhibition in the Management of Osteoporosis

Abstract

The recognition of the importance of the Wnt-signaling pathway in bone metabolism and studies of patients with rare skeletal disorders characterized by high bone mass identified sclerostin as target for the development of new therapeutics for osteoporosis. Findings in animals and humans with sclerostin deficiency as well as results of preclinical and early clinical studies with sclerostin inhibitors demonstrated a new treatment paradigm with a bone building agent for the management of patients with osteoporosis, the antifracture efficacy, and long-term tolerability of which remain to be established in on-going phase III clinical studies. In this article we review the currently available preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the use of sclerostin inhibitors in osteoporosis.