title: The stumble-from pipe cleaner to bone builder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the history of the transition of bisphosphonate use from bench chemistry to clinical applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pertinent medical literature, including limited-distribution as well as peer-reviewed publications, was reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bisphosphonates were originally developed to interfere with calcium deposition. An expanded understanding of bone physiology, as well as a growing appreciation of bisphosphonate chemistry, allowed a broadening range of clinical applications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of bisphosphonates in clinical medicine depended on a series of fortuitous events that, at the time, were "stumbles," not unlike the discoveries of Fleming and Newton. The logical sequence is more apparent in retrospect.
authors.affiliation: Medical Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, Northern California Health Care System, Martinez, California 94553, USA.
authors.forename: Arthur L M
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Swislocki
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wexler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000188:drug therapy; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates