Denosumab

Denosumab, sold under the brand name Prolia among others, is a human monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of osteoporosis, treatment-induced bone loss, metastases to bone, and giant cell tumor of bone.

The most common side effects are joint and muscle pain in the arms or legs.

Denosumab is an inhibitor of RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand), which works by decreasing the development of osteoclasts, which are cells that break down bone. Denosumab is a human monoclonal IgG2 antibody that targets the protein RANKL, which is essential for the formation, function and survival of osteoclasts, the cell type responsible for bone resorption. Denosumab binds to RANKL with high affinity and specificity, preventing the interaction between RANKL and RANK. Increased osteoclast activity stimulated by RANKL is a key mediator of bone destruction in metastatic bone disease. This leads to a reduction in osteoclast numbers and function, and a decrease in bone resorption, cancer-induced bone destruction. It also leads to a decrease in bone resorption in cortical and trabecular bones. It was developed by the biotechnology company Amgen.