Novel Therapeutic Agents for Rare Diseases of Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism

Abstract

The last decade has been revolutionary regarding the management of rare bone diseases caused by impaired calcium and phosphate metabolism. Elucidation of the underlying genetic basis and pathophysiologic alterations has been the determinant factor for the development of new, disease-specific treatment agents. The phosphaturic hormone Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF23) possesses a critical role in the pathogenesis of various hypophosphatemic disorders. Among them, the genetic disorder of X-linked hypophosphatemia and the acquired syndrome of tumor-induced osteomalacia, although very rare, have attracted the scientific community’s attention towards designing an FGF23-inhibitor as a potential specific therapy. The monoclonal antibody burosumab was approved for the treatment of children and adult patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia and recently for tumor-induced osteomalacia patients, demonstrating benefits regarding their symptoms, biochemical profile and bone mineralization status. Asfotase alfa is a hydroxyapatite-targeted recombinant alkaline phosphatase, an enzymatic replacement therapy, substituting the defective activity of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase, in patients suffering from hypophosphatasia. Promising data regarding its favorable effect on survival rate, bone quality, fracture healing, muscle strength, mobility, respiratory function, and general quality of life have led to the approval of the drug for the treatment of childhood-onset hypophosphatasia. Given the high costs of treatment for both agents and their limited clinical use until now, more data are needed to define patients’ characteristics that make them ideal candidates for therapy. Long-term safety issues also need to be clarified.