title: Therapeutic approaches to bone diseases.
abstract: The strength and integrity of our bones depends on maintaining a delicate balance between bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. As we age or as a result of disease, this delicate balancing act becomes tipped in favor of osteoclasts so that bone resorption exceeds bone formation, rendering bones brittle and prone to fracture. A better understanding of the biology of osteoclasts and osteoblasts is providing opportunities for developing therapeutics to treat diseases of bone. Drugs that inhibit the formation or activity of osteoclasts are valuable for treating osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and inflammation of bone associated with rheumatoid arthritis or periodontal disease. Far less attention has been paid to promoting bone formation with, for example, growth factors or hormones, an approach that would be a valuable adjunct therapy for patients receiving inhibitors of bone resorption.
authors.affiliation: Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, PA 19486, USA. St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne 3065, Australia. gideon_rodan@merck.com
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rodan
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000188:drug therapy; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D004967:Estrogens; D006133:Growth Substances; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D002116:Calcitonin