Indications to teriparatide treatment in patients with osteoporosis A position paper on the situation in Switzerland

Summary To prevent osteoporotic fracture occurrence, a variety of treatment regimens with different mechanisms of action is available. The antiresorptive bisphosphonate drugs are currently the most commonly prescribed agents in the management of patients with osteoporosis. The recombinant amino-terminal fragment of human parathyroid hormone (Teriparatide) is a bone anabolic agent which reduces fracture risk by increasing bone mass and improving bone microarchitecture. Teriparatide treatment reduces vertebral and non-vertebral fracture risk markedly in women and men with idiopathic osteoporosis, or with glucocorticoidinduced osteoporosis. Teriparatide should thus be considered as first line treatment for postmenopausal women and for men with severe osteoporosis.