Denosumab
ProliaUniProt O14788 · 3D model
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A lab-made antibody that grabs onto RANKL, a signaling protein that tells bone-destroying cells to mature and get to work, so bone breakdown slows down.
How it works
Bones are constantly being broken down and rebuilt by two types of cells working in balance. RANKL is like an on switch signal that tells bone-eating cells to form and stay active. Denosumab is an antibody that intercepts RANKL before it can flip that switch, so fewer bone-eating cells get activated. With less bone breakdown happening, bones gradually become denser and stronger.
What it’s used for
Under the brand Prolia, used to treat osteoporosis in women after menopause and in men, including bone loss caused by long-term steroid use or certain cancer hormone treatments. The same drug is also marketed under a different brand, at a higher dose, for bone-related complications in cancer patients.
- Mechanism
- RANKL inhibitor (mAb)
- Drug class
- Monoclonal antibody
- Therapeutic area
- Bone / Metabolic