Osteoporosis drug regrows jaw bone: study

[n2doc]

By Gene EmeryPosted 2010/10/18 at 2:17 pm EDT

BOSTON, Oct. 18, 2010 (Reuters) — The osteoporosis drug Forteo can regrow bone in jaws damaged by severe bone-destroying conditions called osteonecrosis and periodontitis, doctors reported on Saturday.

The research, reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in Toronto, suggests that the drug may spur growth in a damaged jaw, the researchers said.

Forteo, known generically as teriparatide, cuts in half the risk of bone fractures in patients with thinning bones by stimulating the growth of new bone. But it is seldom given for more than two years out of fear that long-term exposure might lead to osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

The first of two reports, also published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed people whose severe periodontitis was damaging the tissue around the teeth developed nearly 10 times more bone with Forteo compared to those who received daily placebo injections.

"There was a significant gain in the bone around the teeth as measured by X-rays," Dr. Laurie McCauley of the University of Michigan said in a telephone interview. "This relatively short dosing period of six weeks resulted in improvements that were sustained, and things actually improved over 12 months."

The 40 volunteers were also treated with periodontal surgery as part of the test, which was financed by Eli Lilly and company, which makes Forteo.

http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre69h47t-us-osteoporosis-drug-regrows-jaw-bone-study/

So yeah, caution because of the funding, but I hope this does work out.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I hope so too, n2doc!

[rocktivity]

"You are old," said the youth, "and your jaws are too weak

For anything tougher than suet;
Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak
Pray, how did you manage to do it?"

"In my youth," said his father, "I took to the law,
And argued each case with my wife;
And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw
has lasted the rest of my life."

-- Lewis Carroll

:headbang:
rocktivity

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Thanks. I was diagnosed a year ago with radiation osteonecrosis when two slivers of

jaw bone worked their way to the surface. I know several people who have this problem.