Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal
Recent clinical, regulatory, research and industry developments relating to this disease.
Associations Among Estrogens, the Gut Microbiome and Osteoporosis.
Postmenopausal osteoporosis coexisting with sarcopenia: the role and mechanisms of estrogen.
What's happening now
An analyst briefing on current research, clinical, regulatory and industry activity surrounding this disease.
- 1 clinical trial expected to report results, the earliest in Q4 2027.
Clinical MilestonesViewHide
- 2026-04-17Combined Anabolic Therapy StudyResults expected Q4 2027
- 2026-09-18Abaloparatide Added to Ongoing Denosumab vs Continued Denosumab AlonePrimary completion
Regulatory UpdatesViewHide
- 2026-04-27Biosimilar approval — TeriparatideTeriparatide is indicated in adults. Treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men at increased risk of fracture. In postmenopausal women, a significant reduction in the incidence of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures but not hip fractures has been demonstrated. Treatment of osteoporosis associated with sustained systemic glucocorticoid therapy in women and men at increased risk for fracture.
- 2026-03-26Product authorisation ended — Raloxifene hydrochlorideOptruma is indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. A significant reduction in the incidence of vertebral, but not hip fractures has been demonstrated. When determining the choice of Optruma or other therapies, including oestrogens, for an individual postmenopausal woman, consideration should be given to menopausal symptoms, effects on uterine and breast tissues, and cardiovascular risks and benefits (see section 5.1).
- 2025-11-17Biosimilar approval — DenosumabTreatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men at increased risk of fractures. In postmenopausal women Kefdensis significantly reduces the risk of vertebral, non-vertebral and hip fractures.Treatment of bone loss associated with hormone ablation in men with prostate cancer at increased risk of fractures (see section 5.1). In men with prostate cancer receiving hormone ablation, Kefdensis significantly reduces the risk of vertebral fractures.Treatment of bone loss associated with long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy in adult patients at increased risk of fracture (see section 5.1).
- 2026-09-18ClinicalAbaloparatide Added to Ongoing Denosumab vs Continued Denosumab AlonePrimary completion
- 2026-04-27RegulatoryBiosimilar approval — TeriparatideTeriparatide is indicated in adults. Treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men at increased risk of fracture. In postmenopausal women, a significant reduction in the incidence of vertebral and non-vertebral fractures but not hip fractures has been demonstrated. Treatment of osteoporosis associated with sustained systemic glucocorticoid therapy in women and men at increased risk for fracture.
- 2026-04-17ClinicalCombined Anabolic Therapy StudyResults expected Q4 2027
- 2026-03-26RegulatoryProduct authorisation ended — Raloxifene hydrochlorideOptruma is indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. A significant reduction in the incidence of vertebral, but not hip fractures has been demonstrated. When determining the choice of Optruma or other therapies, including oestrogens, for an individual postmenopausal woman, consideration should be given to menopausal symptoms, effects on uterine and breast tissues, and cardiovascular risks and benefits (see section 5.1).
- 2025-11-17RegulatoryBiosimilar approval — DenosumabTreatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men at increased risk of fractures. In postmenopausal women Kefdensis significantly reduces the risk of vertebral, non-vertebral and hip fractures.Treatment of bone loss associated with hormone ablation in men with prostate cancer at increased risk of fractures (see section 5.1). In men with prostate cancer receiving hormone ablation, Kefdensis significantly reduces the risk of vertebral fractures.Treatment of bone loss associated with long-term systemic glucocorticoid therapy in adult patients at increased risk of fracture (see section 5.1).
Therapeutic landscape
Therapies with a regulatory footing for this condition, alongside the wider set of agents co-studied with it in the literature.
Product authorisation ended — Optruma is indicated for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in post-menopausal… (2026)
Biosimilar approval — Teriparatide is indicated in adults. Treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women an… (2026)
Biosimilar approval — Treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men at increased risk of fractur… (2025)
Clinical trials
The current development programme across all trial phases.
Regulatory timeline
Drug regulatory events matched to this condition by indication — EMA.
European Medicines Agency (CC BY 4.0). Events are matched to this condition by drug indication text — approvals/updates for drugs indicated for it, not disease-specific acts.
Research activity
Key research shaping understanding of this disease, combining the latest publications with the most influential evidence.
Major themes8
- Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal5
- Osteoporosis3
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome2
- Bone Density Conservation Agents1
- Bone Remodeling1
- Bone Resorption1
- Estrogens1
- Osteoporotic Fractures1
Leading journals6
- Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA2
- BMC musculoskeletal disorders1
- Current osteoporosis reports1
- Endocrine reviews1
- International journal of molecular sciences1
- The Journal of endocrinology1
Leading researchers8
- Afanador-Restrepo DF1
- Aibar-Almazán A1
- Bone HG1
- Carcelén-Fraile MDC1
- Castellote-Caballero Y1
- Cooper C1
- Devogelaer JP1
- Downs RW1
Affiliations (unnormalised)6
- BioFab i3D-Biofabrication and 3D (Bio) Printing Laboratory1
- Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA)1
- Brigham and Women's Hospital1
- Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM)1
- Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases1
- Charles University1
Associated genes
Genes associated with this disease in the canonical knowledge graph (Open Targets evidence). Number shows the association score.
Disease biology
Proteins whose encoding gene is associated with this disease, reached through the canonical gene→disease graph. Number shows the gene's association score.
Related conditions
Diseases frequently studied alongside this one. Number shows shared papers.
Disease profile
A grounded synthesis of the condition — overview, causes, mechanism, risk factors and current standard of care.
Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disorder associated with fractures of the femoral neck, vertebrae, and distal forearm. It occurs commonly in women within 15 to 20 years after menopause and is linked to menopause-related estrogen deficiency.
The supplied grounding identifies menopause-associated estrogen deficiency as the major cause. Review material also describes estrogen deficiency as the key hormonal driver of age-related bone loss in women.
The disease is characterized by an imbalance between bone resorption and bone production, with loss of bone density and altered bone remodeling. The grounding also links estrogen deficiency to changes in cytokines and to gut microbiome-related low-grade inflammation and increased gut barrier permeability, which may contribute to bone loss.
Postmenopausal status is the main risk context described in the grounding, especially in women within 15 to 20 years after menopause. Lower estrogen levels are associated with increased risk, and the literature also covers fracture risk assessment in women at risk from osteoporosis.
Treatment is described at the level of pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. Pharmacological therapy includes anti-resorptive drugs and estrogen-based therapy, while non-pharmacological management includes physical activity, diet, and avoidance of harmful habits such as smoking and high alcohol consumption.
AI-generated summary grounded in MeSH and 5 peer-reviewed sources. Informational only — not medical advice. Generated 2026-07-07.
Reference
Authoritative identity, definition & identifiers.
Metabolic disorder associated with fractures of the femoral neck, vertebrae, and distal forearm. It occurs commonly in women within 15-20 years after menopause, and is caused by factors associated with menopause including estrogen deficiency.
- Disease identity & definition — NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), public domain
- Clinical trials — ClinicalTrials.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
- Research activity — Europe PMC (EMBL-EBI) + OpenAlex-derived paper links
- Related entities are derived from literature co-mention (studied together) — associative, not causal.