Newer drug treatments: Their effects on fracture prevention

Drug treatment of osteoporosis is based on the knowledge of mechanisms of bone turnover and the manipulation of the cellular components of bone turnover in terms of recruitment, activation and apoptosis of the cells involved. Based on their mechanisms of action, drugs used in the treatment of osteoporosis can be divided into those that inhibit bone turnover (bisphosphonates, SERMs, calcitonin), those that stimulate bone turnover (parathyroid hormone), and those with mixed effects (strontium ranelate). In this chapter we discuss the anti-fracture effects of some newer drugs together with innovative aspects of intake (monthly oral intake for ibandronate) or mechanisms of action (parathyroid hormone and strontium ranelate). Some new drugs that are being studied for their potential anti-fracture effects are listed.