Therapeutics: NEL-like protein 1 (NELL1)

Cell culture, mouse and sheep studies suggest NELL1 could help treat osteoporosis. In human bone marrow stem cells from osteoporosis patients and healthy controls, an adenoviral vector encoding NELL1 increased osteoblast differentiation compared with a GFP-encoding vector. In a sheep model of osteoporosis, intravertebral injection of NELL1 decreased osteoclast numbers and increased osteoblast numbers and cortical bone thickness compared with vehicle. In a mouse model of osteoporosis, IV injection of NELL1 increased bone formation and bone strength. Next steps could include testing the long-term safety profile of IV dosing of NELL1...