A comparison of strontium ranelate and PTH(1-84)

Abstract

Evaluation of: Quesada-Gómez JM, Muschitz C, Gómez-Reino J, Greisen H, Andersen HS, Dimai HP. The effect of PTH(1-84) or strontium ranelate on bone formation markers in postmenopausal women with primary osteoporosis: result of a randomized, open-label trial. Osteoporosis Int. DOI: 10.1007/s00198-010-1460-6 (2010) (Epub ahead of print).

A recent article compared parathyroid hormone (PTH[1-84]) and strontium ranelate with respect to their effects on bone formation and bone resorption markers, a study performed with the aim of shedding light on the potential differences in the mode of action of these two compounds. This study found that PTH(1-84) induces robust inductions of both the bone formation markers N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen and alkaline phosphatase, and the resorption marker c-terminal crosslinked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), data that correlate well with previous publications. However, for strontium ranelate, no induction of markers was observed. Furthermore, although the data were not significant, serum calcium levels in the two treatment groups exhibited opposing trends, with PTH(1-84) increasing these as expected and with strontium ranelate decreasing them. These data indicate that strontium ranelate utilizes another mode of action to the induction of turnover seen with PTH(1-84). Finally, a trend towards improved quality of life was seen with PTH(1-84), while strontium ranelate did not change these parameters. This article is a useful addition to the ongoing debate on how best to possibly treat osteoporosis.

Keywords::

• biochemical markers
• bone turnover
• PTH(1-84)
• quality of life
• strontium

Financial & competing interests disclosure

All authors are employees of Nordic Bioscience, and Morten A Karsdal and Claus Christiansen own stocks in Nordic Bioscience. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.