The underlying pathophysiology and therapeutic approaches for osteoporosis

• Published in: Medicinal research reviews Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 2024 - 2057
• Main Authors: Awasthi, Harshika, Mani, Dayanandan, Singh, Divya, Gupta, Atul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2018
• Subjects: anabolic agents; Animals; antiresorptive therapies; Bone Density Conservation Agents - chemistry; Bone Density Conservation Agents - pharmacology; Bone Density Conservation Agents - therapeutic use; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Approval; Humans; Molecular Targeted Therapy; novel targets; Osteoporosis; Osteoporosis - classification; Osteoporosis - diagnosis; Osteoporosis - drug therapy; Osteoporosis - physiopathology; pathophysiology; Signal Transduction; triggers and targets; anabolic agents; triggers and targets; osteoporosis; novel targets; antiresorptive therapies; pathophysiology
• ISSN: 0198-6325; 1098-1128
• DOI: 10.1002/med.21504

With an increase in the ageing population worldwide, the prevalence of osteoporosis increases at an alarming rate in both male and female irrespective of their ethnicity. At present, the currently available therapeutic options are mostly limited to either bone resorptive or bone forming efficacies and both approaches are associated with serious side effects. Despite these options, there is still need for newer therapeutics to treat osteoporosis, which can offer beneficial effects for maintaining balanced dynamics between bone formation and bone resorption, devoid of any side effect. The proper understanding of pathophysiology of the disease is essential for designing or investigating an effective and safe anti‐osteoporotic agent. This review represents a discussion around the molecular targets with their implications in disease progression, available therapeutic options, the emerging targets, and the importance of designing an effective anti‐osteoporotic agent.