Romosozumab in osteoporosis: yesterday, today and tomorrow

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by low bone mass, microarchitectural deterioration, increased bone fragility, and fracture susceptibility. It commonly occurs in older people, especially postmenopausal women. As global ageing increases, osteoporosis has become a global burden. There are a number of medications available for the treatment of osteoporosis, categorized as anabolic and anti-resorptive. Unfortunately, there is no drugs which have dual influence on bone, while all drugs have limitations and adverse events. Some serious adverse events include jaw osteonecrosis and atypical femoral fracture. Recently, a novel medication has appeared that challenges this pattern. Romosozumab is a novel drug monoclonal antibody to sclerostin encoded by the SOST gene. It has been used in Japan since 2019 and has achieved promising results in treating osteoporosis. However, it is also accompanied by some controversy. While it promotes rapid bone growth, it may cause serious adverse events such as cardiovascular diseases. There has been scepticism about the drug since its inception. Therefore, the present review comprehensively covered romosozumab from its inception to its clinical application, from animal studies to human studies, and from safety to cost. We hope to provide a better understanding of romosozumab for its clinical application.