Regulatory boneheads I've been following the winding trail of Forteo, a recently FDA approved osteoporosis drug, for over a year (see the August 2002 issue of Real Health, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is"). I first became intrigued in December 2001 when the FDA initially refused to approve the drug due to "quality control issues." (and you and I both know that if the FDA won't approve a drug that could make the pharmaceutical industry millions of dollars, it must be really bad). But of course, money makes the world go 'round and the FDA reversed it's decision and granted approval a few months ago. Forteo is a synthetic form of parathyroid hormones. The hormone of the parathyroid glands, had been shown in studies to restore bone mass, increase strength, and dramatically reduce fractures in patients with osteoporosis. This sounds good on the surface, but I have one very basic concern I do not see addressed in the research: How do we know that Forteo won't cause calcium buildup in other tissues, such as the arteries, the brain or the digestive organs? I've said it before, but it bears repeating, you never want to be among the first to try a brand new drug (look how many times the FDA has pulled an approved drug off the shelves - of course then it's a little too late). I will continue to follow the Forteo story. In the meantime, stick with more proven treatments. Separating the truth from the fiction,
Dr. William Campbell Douglass II, MD | 
