Teriparatide (Forteo)
Overview
A recombinant form of the first 34 amino acids of human parathyroid hormone (PTH 1-34). When administered intermittently via daily subcutaneous injection, teriparatide stimulates osteoblastic bone formation more than osteoclastic resorption, producing a net anabolic effect on bone.
Mechanism of Action
It activates the PTH1 receptor on osteoblasts, increasing Wnt signaling, osteoblast differentiation, and survival while reducing sclerostin expression.
Research Summary & Key Findings
FDA-approved in 2002 for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and men at high fracture risk. Fracture Prevention Trial showed 65% reduction in vertebral fractures and 53% reduction in nonvertebral fractures (Neer et al., NEJM, 2001). Treatment limited to 2 years due to theoretical osteosarcoma risk observed in rats at high doses, though no human cases have been attributed to teriparatide use.
Clinical Status
Teriparatide (Forteo) has received FDA approval and is available for clinical use under appropriate medical supervision. Consult a qualified healthcare provider for prescribing information.
Administration Routes
References
Primary literature
- PubMed — "Teriparatide"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov — "Teriparatide"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem — "Teriparatide"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
Study-level citations for this compound are being verified against the primary sources before publication. The database queries above return the current indexed literature in the meantime.
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