[Therapeutic agents for disorders of bone and calcium metabolism--Teriparatide, parathyroid hormone (1-34) as a daily subcutaneous injection].

Teriparatide is the recombinant N-terminal fragment (1-34) of endogenous human parathyroid hormone (PTH) and has been approved and used in many countries including the United States and Europe. Treatment with teriparatide 20 microg/day for 18 months increased spine bone mineral density (BMD) by approximately 10% and reduced the incidence of vertebral fractures by 65% and nonvertebral fragility fractures by 53%. Furthermore, the results from paired-biopsy showed that the treatment with teriparatide improved bone architecture. Teriparatide is being developed in Japan as a treatment for osteoporosis.