Experimental cancer drug boosts bone strength and trims weight in menopausal mice
Researchers found that the anticancer compound CADD522 strengthens bones and reduces weight in post-menopausal mice, hinting at a new osteoporosis treatment.
Scientists from the University of East Anglia and Maryland have shown that the experimental anticancer agent CADD522 markedly improves bone density and promotes weight loss in ovariectomized mice, a model of menopause. By inhibiting the RUNX2 protein, which drives tumor growth, the drug unexpectedly stimulates new bone formation and preserves trabecular structure. Over an eight-week period, treated mice displayed higher bone volume and reduced body mass compared with controls, and the compound was well tolerated in subsequent rat and dog studies.
The research, detailed in npj Drug Discovery, points to a potential new class of osteoporosis treatments that avoid the hot flashes, cramps and swelling linked to existing drugs. While the results are promising, the therapy remains in early development and human efficacy has yet to be proven.
