[Evidence in the treatment of osteoporosis using weekly teriparatide injections]

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) has long been of interest due to its stimulatory effect on bone formation and its potential for osteoporosis treatment. However, accelerated bone resorption associated with increased bone turnover has been reported with daily administration of hPTH (1-34) in animal experiments and clinical studies. Weekly teriparatide [hPTH (1-34) ] administration was promoted in Japan because it did not increase bone resorption. Weekly teriparatide administration delivered superior bone mineral density increases and powerful fracture prevention efficacy without increasing bone turnover in fracture prevention trials and was approved in September 2011. Weekly teriparatide administration is thus expected to greatly contribute to the treatment of high fracture-risk osteoporotic patients.