Denosumab is a RANK ligand (RANKL) inhibitor used for the management of osteoporosis in patients at high risk for bone fractures. Denosumab is a novel, fully human IgG2 monoclonal antibody specific to receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), suppresses bone resorption via inhibiting RANK-mediated activation of osteoclasts.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed · 1 reference
Denosumab is designed to target RANKL (RANK ligand), a protein that acts as the primary signal to promote bone removal/resorption. In many bone loss conditions, RANKL overwhelms the body's natural defense against bone destruction. Denosumab prevents RANKL from activating its receptor, RANK, on the surface of osteoclasts and their precursors. Prevention of the RANKL/RANK interaction inhibits osteoclast formation, function, and survival, thereby decreasing bone resorption and increasing bone mass and strength in both cortical and trabecular bone.
- Primary indication
- Denosumab under the brand name Prolia is indicated as a treatment for osteoporosis in menopausal women or men and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in men and women at high risk of fracture.Curator reviewed · 10 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C6404H9912N1724O2004S50 · 144700.0 Da
- First approval
- Canada, 2010 · United States, 2010 · European Union, 2016
- Also known as
- denosumab-bbdz
- Code names
- AMG-162 · ENZ215 · MW032 · QL1206
- Brand names
Resolves to
What you can answer from here — as of May 26, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Denosumab, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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