Teriparatide for Osteoporosis

Q: I just read an article about teriparatide, the new drug approved by the FDA for treating osteoporosis. I am in a study for osteoporosis and am injecting myself daily with a parathyroid hormone. I did it for 15 months, took a year off, and am on it again. I was wondering if this new drug is similar to what I am taking and how I could get more information about it.

Thank you,

--E.A.

Dr. Donnica: Teriparatide is the generic name for a drug called "Forteo" made by Eli Lilly. It was approved by the FDA in November 2002 for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who are at high risk for having a fracture. It is the first approved agent for the treatment of osteoporosis that stimulates new bone formation, thus increasing bone density and reducing fracture risk. The drug is also approved to increase bone mass in men with primary or hypogonadal osteoporosis who are at high risk for fracture.

Teriparatide is a portion of human parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is the primary regulator of calcium and phosphate metabolism in bones. It is given by daily injection. It sounds like this is the medicine in the study you are currently in! You should feel free to ask the study coordinator to confirm this.

For more information on osteoporosis, click here.

With best regards,
Donnica Moore, MD
President, DrDonnica.com

Created: 4/16/2003  -  Donnica Moore, M.D.