Abaloparatide: Review of a Next-Generation Parathyroid Hormone Agonist

To review the efficacy, safety, and economics of abaloparatide in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

PubMed (1966 to October 2017), Clinicaltrials.gov (October 2017), and Scopus (1970 to October 2017) were searched using abaloparatide, Tymlos, BA058, PTHrP 1-34 analog, and parathyroid hormone-related peptide 1-34 analog.

Human studies published in peer-reviewed publications in English were the primary sources for efficacy, safety, and economic data.

In the 2 randomized, published clinical studies of 24 weeks and 18 months duration, bone mineral density changes were higher for abaloparatide (lumbar spine, 6.7%-11.2%; femoral head, 3.1%-3.2%; total hip, 2.6%-4.2%) compared with placebo (lumbar spine, 0.6%-1.6%; femoral head, -0.4% to 0.8%; total hip, -0.1% to 0.4%; P < 0.05) and compared with teriparatide in the 24-week study (total hip 2.6% vs +0.5%, P < 0.05). New vertebral and nonvertebral fractures occurred in 0.6% and 2.7% of patients on abaloparatide compared with 4.2% and 4.7% on placebo in the 18-month study ( P < 0.05). Abaloparatide appears to have a somewhat higher risk for adverse effects, discontinuation as a result of adverse effects, and serious or severe adverse effects than teriparatide, but teriparatide has a higher risk for hypercalcemia. Pharmacoeconomic modeling appears to favor abaloparatide if differences in efficacy and cost are maintained.

Abaloparatide, which has less effect on osteoclasts, is an alternative to teriparatide in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis who are at high risk for fractures or who have failed antiresorptive therapy based on initial clinical studies and economic modeling.