Etidronic acid is a bisphosphonate drug that prevents osteoclastic bone resorption; used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Etidronic acid is a first generation bisphosphonate similar to clodronic acid and tiludronic acid.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 6 references
Bisphosphonates are taken into the bone where they bind to hydroxyapatite. Bone resorption by osteoclasts causes local acidification, releasing the bisphosphonate, which is taken into the osteoclast by fluid-phase endocytosis. Endocytic vesicles become acidified, releasing bisphosphonates into the cytosol of osteoclasts where they act.
Osteoclasts mediate resorption of bone. When osteoclasts bind to bone they form podosomes, ring structures of F-actin. Disruption of the podosomes causes osteoclasts to detach from bones, preventing bone resorption.
First generation bisphosphonates closely mimic the structure of pyrophosphate, which can be incorporated into ATP anologues that cannot be hydrolyzed, disrupting all ATP mediated actions of osteoclasts.
- Primary indication
- Etidronate is indicated to treat Paget's disease of bone, as well as the treatment and prevention of heterotropic ossification after total hip replacement of spinal cord injury.Curator reviewed · 5 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C2H8O7P2 · 206.0282 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2006 · United States, 1977
- Also known as
- Acetodiphosphonic acid · EHDP · Etidronate · HEDP · Hydroxyethanediphosphonic acid
- Code names
- M05BA01 · NSC-227995
Resolves to
DBVJJBKOTRCVKF-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESCC(O)(P(O)(O)=O)P(O)(O)=OWhat you can answer from here — as of September 12, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Etidronic acid, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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