Osteoporosis, meaning "porous bones", is a condition of weakened and brittle bones that become more prone to fracture. The 10-billion dollar osteoporosis market is crowded with bone-preserving drugs such as bisphosphonates and selective estrogen receptor modulators, commonly referred to as SERMS. Bone-building drugs such as Enzo's candidate compounds offer the potential for promising alternatives.
One of the most challenging problems chronicled throughout the history of clinical dentistry is the loss of alveolar bone. Alveolar bone loss is characterized by a reduction in the height and volume of the maxillary and mandibular bones that underlie and support the teeth. The primary causes of alveolar bone loss are periodontitis and tooth loss, although osteoporosis may also contribute.
According to the literature (see Albandar JM 1999 J Periodontal., 70:13-29) roughly 35% of US adults between the ages of 30 and 90 have periodontitis. The lack of an effective treatment for periodontal bone loss has encouraged the continued search for a successful therapeutic approach. We believe that Enzo's candidate bone-building drugs may be such an approach.