Method for fostering bone formation and preservation

Abstract

A method of inducing bone formation in a subject in need of such inducement comprises the steps of mechanically inducing an increase in osteoblast activity in the subject and elevating blood concentration of at least one bone anabolic agent in the subject. The method steps may be performed in any order, but in sufficient time proximity that the elevated concentration of the anabolic agent and the mechanically induced increase in osteoblast activity overlaps. The method may additionally comprise providing the subject with an elevated blood concentration of at least one antiresorptive agent, wherein the elevated concentration is sufficient to prevent resorption of new bone growth produced due to the osteoblast activity. Use of the method permits targeting of specific bones of the subject for bone production and preservation, faster bone production and earlier discontinuation of bone anabolic pharmaceuticals. Kits adapted for performing the method are provided.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 128,095, filed May 11, 2005, which is a 35 U.S.C. §119 conversion of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 571,200, filed May 14, 2004, the contents of which are specifically incorporated herein.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT [0002] The invention disclosed herein was made with Government support under NIH Grant No. DE 12110 from the National Institutes of Health. Accordingly, the government has certain rights in this invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates generally to a method for fostering bone formation in a subject. More particularly the invention concerns a method for inducing rapid bone formation and then preserving the bone thus produced, e.g., by minimizing its resorption. The invention permits specific targeting of particular bones of a subject for repair, strengthening, reshaping and / or mo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for inducing rapid bone formation in a subject such that the length of treatment with a bone anabolic agent may be reduced, thus offering safety and pharmacoeconomic advantages.

[0011] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for inducing bone formation at a rapid rate in a subject suffering from diminished bone mass which permits specific bones of the subject to be targeted for an increase in bone mass, while additionally providing beneficial bone formation effects to the entire skeleton of the subject.

[0013] It is a further object of the invention to provide a method capable of inducing rapid bone formation in subjects requiring such additional bone to serve as an anchoring mechanism for prostheses of, e.g., the hip, knee and shoulder and / or other types of implants such as dental implants.

[0014] It is a still further object of the invention to provide a method capable of inducing rapid bone formation in subjects requiring bone strengthening to alleviate chronic pain due to conditions such as vertebral crush.

[0015] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method capable of diminishing resorption of any substantial portion of such additional bone thus produced in accordance with the invention.

[0021] The invention further provides a method of inducing bone formation in a subject suffering from diminished bone mass which comprises the steps of targeting for treatment at least one bone of the subject, wherein each targeted bone defines a bone marrow cavity therein. The bone marrow cavity contains a quantity of bone marrow and a plurality of osteoblasts. The method of the invention further comprises mechanically altering the contents of the bone marrow cavity to thereby stimulate and thus increase osteoblast activity (e.g., increased differentiation or increased bone formation by stimulating osteoblasts) therein. Thereafter, bone mass is increased within the cavity due to the increased osteoblast activity. The method additionally comprises administering to the subject at least one bone anabolic agent for a duration and at a concentration sufficient to raise blood levels of the anabolic agent within the subject above natural levels thereof and thereby prolong the mechanically induced osteoblast activity. The method, however, further comprises additionally administering, either (1) contemporaneous with, (2) overlapping with, or (3) subsequent to the administration of the bone anabolic agent, an antiresorptive agent for a duration and at a concentration sufficient to diminish resorption of new bone produced due to the osteoblast activity. As with the method described above, the mechanical alteration of the contents of the bone marrow cavity of bones in which such stimulated growth is desired thus permits specific bones of the subject to be particularly targeted for enhanced bone formation.

Problems solved by technology

Such prior art methods for treating these disorders are typically systemic in nature, however.

These methods are therefore not commonly able to be targeted on one or more specific bones, e.g., those of the hip, shoulder, spine and / or wrist, which may require a more focused treatment due to bone losses due to disease effects caused by, e.g., osteoporosis or by bone trauma such as that due to a fracture.

Moreover, prior art methods frequently require undesirably long treatment regimens, with accompanying patient compliance problems.

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