title: Update on romosozumab : a humanized monoclonal antibody to sclerostin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disorders with inactivating mutations of the SOST gene result in reduced or absent expression of sclerostin and are associated with high bone mass. Sclerostin is an important regulator of bone formation due to its inhibitory actions in the osteoanabolic Wnt signaling pathway. Advances in understanding the mechanisms of action of this signaling molecule have led to the development of a pharmacological inhibitor of sclerostin with potential clinical applications as an osteoanabolic drug for the treatment of osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Romosozumab is the first humanized monoclonal sclerostin antibody to be tested in clinical trials. Similar to preclinical animal studies with sclerostin antibodies, initial clinical studies show that romosozumab increases bone formation and bone mineral density.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blocking sclerostin action with romosozumab is a promising new therapeutic approach to osteoanabolic therapy of osteoporosis; efficacy and safety data on large controlled studies are awaited.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit , 630 West 168th Street, NY 10032 , USA.
authors.forename: Aline G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bilezikian
authors.forename: E Michael
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lewiecki
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010009:Osteochondrodysplasias / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; C422903:SOST protein, human; C557282:romosozumab