Profile of action of denosumab in treatment of osteoporosis

Summary The recent discovery of the RANK/RANKL/OPG system (RANK: Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor B; RANKL: Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor B Ligand; OPG: osteoprotegerin) as final effector in osteoporosis pathogenesis have lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies. Denosumab is a human monoclonal antibody that, like OPG, binds to RANKL preventing RANK activation, thus decreasing bone turnover and increasing bone mineral density. Denosumab is administered subcutaneously every 6 months. Clinical trials have demonstrated efficacy on bone mineral density and reduction of fractures in postmenopausal women and a favourable safety profile.