COMPARISON OF THE ACUTE BIOLOGICAL ACTION OF INJECTABLE SALMON-CALCITONIN AND AN INJECTABLE AND ORAL CALCITONIN ANALOG

In most countries, calcitonin is available in the form of injections, and less frequently as an intranasal spray. An oral route of administr ation should improve compliance. In a preliminary feasibility study, w e have compared the acute biological action of injectable salmon calci tonin (50 IU), with the injectable calcitonin analogue ASC 710 (0.2 mg ) and oral ASC 710 (20 mg) in 6 patients suffering from active Paget's disease of bone. The intensity and duration of the biological respons e were not significantly different in the 3 modes of therapy. In concl usion, the oral calcitonin analogue ASC 710 possesses an antiresorbing activity in Paget's disease comparable to that of an injection of sal mon calcitonin which demonstrates that it can cross the intestinal bar rier.