New anabolic therapies in osteoporosis

Although anti-resorptive drugs have been the cornerstone of osteoporosis therapy, anabolic drugs are an important new advance in the treatment of osteoporosis. By directly stimulating bone formation, anabolic agents might have greater potential than the anti-resorptives to increase bone mass and to decrease fractures. It is also possible that the combination of an anti-resorptive agent with an anabolic agent could be more potent than either agent alone. Potential anabolic therapies for osteoporosis, including fluoride, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I, strontium, statins, tibolone, and parathyroid hormone, are reviewed here. Of these, parathyroid hormone has emerged as the most promising treatment.