Biologic
UniProt O14788
Denosumab
Prolia
- Mechanism of action
- RANKL inhibitor (mAb)
- In plain language
- 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
- Denosumab is a fully human IgG2 monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity and specificity to RANKL, a TNF-family cytokine essential for osteoclast formation, function, and survival. By binding soluble and membrane-bound RANKL, denosumab prevents it from engaging its receptor RANK on osteoclasts and their precursors, mimicking the natural inhibitory action of osteoprotegerin. This blocks osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, shifting the remodeling balance toward net bone formation.
- Therapeutic applications
- As Prolia, indicated for treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and men at high fracture risk, glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, and to increase bone mass in patients receiving certain cancer-related hormone-deprivation therapies. The same molecule is also marketed as Xgeva, at a higher dose, for cancer-related bone complications.
- Class
- Monoclonal antibody
- Therapeutic area
- Bone / Metabolic
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