salmon calcitonin

Oral salmon calcitonin (SMC021) is a synthetic peptide analogue of the salmon calcitonin hormone, formulated for oral administration using Emisphere Technologies' Eligen delivery system, which utilizes the chemical carrier SNAC (sodium N-[8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl) amino] caprylate). Developed by Nordic Bioscience in collaboration with Novartis, SMC021 was designed to overcome the poor bioavailability of peptides in the gastrointestinal tract. The drug acts as a potent agonist of the calcitonin receptor, which is expressed on osteoclasts and chondrocytes. In the context of osteoarthritis, it was hypothesized that SMC021 would provide a dual benefit: inhibiting subchondral bone resorption and directly protecting articular cartilage from degradation by modulating chondrocyte metabolism. However, despite reaching Phase 3 clinical trials for knee osteoarthritis, the program was discontinued after the drug failed to demonstrate superior efficacy over placebo in improving joint structure or reducing pain in large-scale studies.

Other names

oral salmon calcitoninsCT