Role of glucosamine in the treatment for osteoarthritis.

Over the last 20 years, several studies have investigated the ability of glucosamine sulfate to improve the symptoms (pain and function) and to delay the structural progression of osteoarthritis. There is now a large, convergent body of evidence that glucosamine sulfate, given at a daily oral dose of 1,500 mg, is able to significantly reduce the symptoms of osteoarthritis in the lower limbs. This dose of glucosamine sulfate has also been shown, in two independent studies, to prevent the joint space narrowing observed at the femorotibial compartment in patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis.

The treatment of severe postmenopausal osteoporosis : a review of current and emerging therapeutic options.

Several chemical entities have shown their ability to reduce axial and/or appendicular fractures in patients with osteoporosis. Since patients who have experienced a previous fracture are at high risk for subsequent vertebral or hip fracture, it is of prime importance to treat such patients with medications that have unequivocally demonstrated their ability to reduce fracture rates in patients with prevalent fractures. Results obtained with calcium and vitamin D, in this particular population, are not fully satisfactory and these medications are probably better used in conjunction with other therapeutic regimens.

Strontium ranelate: a new treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis with a dual mode of action.

In vitro, strontium ranelate increases collagen and noncollagen protein synthesis by mature osteoblast-enriched cells. Its effects on bone formation were confirmed as the drug enhanced preosteoblastic cell replication. In the isolated osteoclast, preincubation of bone slices with strontium ranelate-induced dose-dependent inhibition of the bone-resorbing activity of treated rat osteoclast.

Strontium ranelate (Fujisawa/Servier).

Strontium ranelate (PROTELOS), a divalent strontium salt, has been developed and launched by Servier for the treatment of osteoporosis. Fujisawa Pharmaceutical is developing the drug in Japan; in November 2004, phase II Japanese trials were ongoing.