BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Therapeutics

Musculoskeletal

November 9, 2016 8:41 PM UTC

Mouse studies suggest inhibiting GDF11 could help treat osteoporosis. In a mouse model of estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss, an anti-GDF11 mAb increased the number, thickness and volume of trabeculae in the distal femur metaphysis, decreased the separation of trabeculae and the number of osteoclasts in the distal femur metaphysis, and decreased serum levels of C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) -- a marker of bone resorption -- compared with vehicle. In a mouse model of age-related osteoporosis, the anti-GDF11 mAb increased the number, thickness and volume of trabeculae in the lumbar vertebrae and decreased the separation of trabeculae and the number of osteoclasts in the lumbar vertebrae. Next steps could include identifying and testing small molecule inhibitors of GDF11...