SWEDISH OSTEOPOROSIS DRUG BEGINS TRIALS IN HUMANS.
The Swedish company Medivir is commencing its first human trial with a new drug against osteoporosis. The company’s researchers have been developing the compound MIV-701 over the last five years with very promising results.MIV-701 inhibits an enzyme, cathepsin K, which degrades bone, but most probably also contributes to cartilage damage in joint diseases. Laboratory research and comprehensive preclinical studies have shown the drug to be efficacious, thereby greatly reducing degradation of bone.Over 90% of all pharmaceutical projects fail before reaching trials in humans, which makes