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calcitonin (Fortical)

✓ Approved

Unigene · CALCR · Recombinant Proteins

What is calcitonin?

calcitonin is a recombinant proteins developed by Unigene. It is approved for therapeutic indications via inhaled.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesFortical
CompanyUnigene
Drug ClassRecombinant Proteins
Molecular TargetCALCR
RouteInhaled
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Unigene

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

calcitonin acts on 1 molecular target:

CALCRcalcitonin receptor (CT-R, CTR)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

calcitonin is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disordersOsteoporosis✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedInternational journal of legal medicine2026-09-19

Machine learning-driven forensic sex prediction using CT-based nasal and maxillary sinus metrics.

Fakher Haidy M HM, Samir Mohamed M, Farag Amina A AA, Elela Nahed Ahmed Mahmoud Abo NAMA et al.

Sex determination is a key component of forensic identification, especially in cases involving fragmented or decomposed human remains where conventional skeletal markers are unavailable. The maxillary sinus and nasal structures are protected craniofacial components that exhibit sexual dimorphism and may aid sex estimation. This study evaluated computed tomography (CT)-based anthropometric measurements of these structures for sex determination in an Egyptian population using machine learning (ML). A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on 195 adult Egyptians (100 females, 95 males) from Upper Egypt (Assiut, n = 104) and Lower Egypt (Benha, n = 91). CT scans of the paranasal sinuses were analyzed to obtain six maxillary sinus dimensions and three nasal measurements. Age and ten additional engineered features were derived, yielding 20 features for ML analysis. Two ML frameworks differing in the sequence of feature selection and hyperparameter optimization were evaluated using six classifiers and five feature-selection methods. Performance was assessed using accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), precision, recall, F1-score, and specificity. Significant sex-related differences were observed in several measurements, with regional variation between Upper and Lower Egypt. Framework 2 generally outperformed Framework 1. The best-performing models achieved AUCs of 0.771 and 0.768, while the highest accuracy reached 74.4%. Nasofrontal angle, nasion-tip distance and mean anteroposterior maxillary dimension were the most consistent predictors. CT-based nasal and maxillary sinus anthropometry shows moderate utility for forensic sex estimation in Egyptians. ML improved classification by capturing complex morphometric relationships, with nasal measurements emerging as robust sex-discriminative markers.

PMID 42760424
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PubMedAesthetic plastic surgery2026-09-19

A Hybrid Auricular Cartilage-ePTFE Technique for Limited Nasal Lengthening and Augmentation in Selected Primary Han Chinese Rhinoplasty.

Liu Caiyue C, Zhang Xiaoxiao X, Zhou Feng F, Cheng Chen C et al.

Augmentation rhinoplasty is commonly performed in Han Chinese patients. Although costal cartilage provides abundant graft material, its harvest increases operative complexity and donor-site morbidity. This study evaluated a selective hybrid technique combining autologous auricular cartilage with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) implant for dorsal augmentation, limited nasal lengthening, and tip refinement in carefully selected primary patients. To evaluate postoperative anthropometric outcomes and implant-related complications associated with a hybrid technique using an ePTFE implant for dorsal augmentation and limited nasal lengthening, combined with auricular cartilage grafting for tip support, contour refinement, and distal implant shielding. This retrospective case series included 137 female Han Chinese patients with mildly short or near-normal noses who underwent primary rhinoplasty between December 2016 and July 2022. Only patients with a minimum follow-up of 24 months were included in the clinical analysis. All patients received a custom-carved I-shaped ePTFE implant for dorsal augmentation and limited nasal lengthening support, together with unilateral auricular cartilage grafting for tip modification. Standardized preoperative and postoperative anthropometric measurements were compared using paired t tests. Follow-up ranged from 24 to 60 months, with a mean duration of 36.2 months. Complications included implant deviation requiring revision in 3 patients, 2.2%, early postoperative infection in 2, 1.5%, late infection in 1, 0.7%, and inadequate dorsal height or tip projection in 6, 4.3%. Mean nasal length increased from 43.0 ± 1.9 mm preoperatively to 45.0 ± 1.8 mm postoperatively, P < 0.05. Mean nasal tip projection increased from 19.0 ± 1.6 mm to 23.0 ± 1.7 mm, P < 0.001. Mean nasolabial angle changed from 100.7 ± 5.33° to 98.2 ± 3.43°, P < 0.05. No implant extrusion was observed during the available follow-up period. In selected primary Han Chinese patients, this hybrid ePTFE-auricular cartilage technique may be a useful option for dorsal augmentation, limited nasal lengthening, and tip refinement. The approach may help achieve aesthetic goals in mild cases without routine costal cartilage harvest. However, the findings should be interpreted within the context of a retrospective case series with a minimum 24-month follow-up, and longer follow-up is required to further evaluate delayed implant-related complications and the durability of aesthetic outcomes. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors   www.springer.com/00266 .

PMID 42760356
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PubMedMedicine2026-09-19

Nasal NUT carcinoma with repeated responses during multimodal treatment incorporating radiotherapy: A case report.

An Qi Q, Tao Yuxuan Y, Wang Peiguo P, Wang Zhongqiu Z

Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma, formerly referred to as NUT midline carcinoma, is an exceptionally rare and aggressive malignancy. Evidence guiding radiotherapy-based management is limited, especially for nasal primary tumors with neuroaxis and systemic dissemination. A 40-year-old woman was referred after resection of a nasal cavity malignancy. During the subsequent course, she experienced orbital pain, headache, visual impairment, severe lumbar and radicular pain, bilateral lower-limb paralysis, urinary retention, malignant pleural effusion, and widespread metastatic disease. Pathologic consultation supported nasal NUT carcinoma, with positive NUT immunostaining and a Ki-67 index of approximately 70%. External molecular testing was reported to confirm a NUTM1 rearrangement, although the original report could not be obtained for review, and the assay platform and fusion partner could not be independently verified. After surgery, the patient received postoperative VMAT/IMRT to 70 Gy in 35 fractions with concurrent cisplatin. Following leptomeningeal, cauda equina, and extensive osseous dissemination, she received palliative helical IMRT/Tomotherapy craniospinal irradiation to 15 Gy in 10 fractions. A later VMAT plan delivered 30 Gy in 10 fractions to one lumbar and 2 hepatic targets. Pembrolizumab, bevacizumab, temozolomide, pleural drainage, and intrapleural therapy overlapped with different treatment phases. During the first course, headache severity decreased from 8/10 to 2.5/10 on a visual analog scale, and clinically recorded Snellen visual acuity improved from 20/200 to 20/50. Pain relief was documented after craniospinal irradiation and after the third treatment course. Serial imaging was contemporaneously interpreted as indicating interval reduction in selected lesions after radiation-containing multimodal treatment phases, although uniform retrospective remeasurement was not feasible. According to telephone follow-up with the patient's family, the patient died approximately 12 months after surgery. Repeated clinical and imaging responses were observed following multiple phases of multimodal treatment incorporating radiotherapy. Because systemic therapies were administered during overlapping periods, the independent contribution of radiotherapy could not be isolated. Radiotherapy may provide clinically meaningful local or palliative benefit as part of individualized multimodal treatment in selected patients.

PMID 42760727
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PubMedTheScientificWorldJournal2026-09-19

Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of Bio-Immune (Andrographolide) in Managing URTI Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Single-Center, Comparative Study.

Singh Shashi Chandrama SC, Choudhary Muskan M, Choudhary Khushi K, Singh Harsh Pal HP

Bio-Immune is a standardized extract containing andrographolide, a diterpenoid lactone derived from the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata (commonly known as Kalmegh), and the carrier, 2-hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin. Kalmegh has long been used to treat uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) in complementary and alternative medicine. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Bio-Immune (≥ 17% w/w andrographolide content). Participants were randomized to receive either 100 mg Bio-Immune twice daily or placebo for a 5-day intervention period (Clinical trial registration number: CTRI/2024/12/077632, Registered 4, December 2024). The primary outcome measure was the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21 (WURSS-21) score; secondary outcomes included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) scores, nasal mucus weight, C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukin-8 (IL-8), and Immunoglobulin A (IgA) in nasal wash, along with safety. Of 67 screened participants, 56 were enrolled, and 55 completed the study. The WURSS-21, VAS, and NRS scores in the Bio-Immune group improved, with statistically significant reductions suggesting relief from symptoms associated with uncomplicated URTI and sustained functional improvement owing to Bio-Immune supplementation. Although the placebo group showed gradual improvement over time, the speed and magnitude of recovery were consistently and statistically superior in the Bio-Immune cohort, with significant changes evident by 6 h after supplementation. Furthermore, a significant reduction in nasal mucus weight was observed by Day 5, accompanied by minor downward trends in CRP and IL-8, which lacked adequate statistical support. No adverse events were reported during the intervention period. Clinical findings support the efficacy of Bio-Immune at a lower dose in providing URTI symptom relief compared with placebo in a shorter intervention period. Clinical Trial Registry of India: CTRI/2024/12/077632; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06689995.

PMID 42760788
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PubMedEuropean archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery2026-09-19

Floor-reaching middle turbinate variants: Dual pathophysiology and descriptive terminology.

Erwe Ibrahem H IH, Alzahrani Mohammed A MA, Alzahrani Abdulbari A AA, Alamrai Bandar M BM et al.

The Bolger classification defines three concha bullosa types but does not account for extreme middle turbinate variants extending to the nasal floor. Only one prior report provided quantitative measurements (45mm). We present four patients (32-52mm vertical height) and distinguish primary pneumatization from secondary disease-filled expansion as the underlying mechanisms. We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing endoscopic surgery from January 2021 to December 2024 at a tertiary rhinology center. Four patients with middle turbinate extension to within ≤3mm of the nasal floor underwent systematic evaluation including high-resolution CT with standardized measurements (vertical height, width, floor distance), endoscopic examination, histopathological analysis, and surgical management with one-year follow-up. Four patients demonstrated massive middle turbinate extension with floor contact (32-52mm vertical height); three patients (48-52mm) exceeded the only previously quantified measurement (45mm) by 3-7mm (6.7-15.6%), while Patient 4 (32mm) qualified by floor distance criterion (≤3mm). Patients 1 and 4 represented extreme pneumatization (air-filled concha bullosa, 48mm and 32mm) without sinusitis. Patients 2 and 3 demonstrated secondary pathological expansion (allergic fungal rhinosinusitis 50mm, mucocele 52mm) with sinus involvement. Both mechanisms converged on a similar anatomical endpoint. All patients underwent endoscopic decompression using a systematic anterior-to-posterior technique, with disease-specific adjuncts (sinus clearance, mucocele drainage, frontal sinusotomy) added for Patients 2 and 3, achieving excellent outcomes in all four. Floor-Reaching Middle Turbinate Variants represent a clinically significant pattern requiring recognition in radiological reporting and surgical planning. Because both mechanisms carry similar surgical implications, descriptive rather than classificatory terminology is warranted. Multicenter validation with standardized measurements is needed before formal classification.

PMID 42760369
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PubMedBMC genomics2026-09-19

Long-read RNA-seq maps the isoform landscape of the trigeminal ganglion in an allergic rhinitis mouse model.

Han Zhiyao Z, Yu Beirui B, Shen Maoqia M, Tang Ziyuan Z et al.

The trigeminal ganglion (TG) plays a key role in allergic rhinitis (AR), mediating symptoms like nasal itching and sneezing via sensory neuron activation. Yet, the underlying transcriptomic mechanisms remain unclear. While short-read RNA-seq struggles to accurately capture complex transcript isoforms, long-read sequencing offers full-length coverage but limited quantitation. Here, we combine both technologies to comprehensively profile the TG transcriptome in an AR mouse model. We identify 25,988 high-confidence full-length isoforms from 13,011 known and 237 novel genes, including 7,543 (29.02%) novel isoforms absent from reference databases. These are enriched in RNA splicing and processing genes. Alternative first exons are the most common splicing event and are especially frequent among novel isoforms. AR induces shifts in gene expression, splicing dynamics, and promoter activity, suggesting neuro-immune crosstalk. Single-cell RNA-seq integration further reveals that while some genes lack cell type-specific expression, their alternative splicing patterns are highly cell type-specific, suggesting that AS may play a crucial role in diversifying gene function across different cell types. The findings provide a comprehensive full-length transcriptome dataset, facilitating in-depth exploration of the interplay between sensory alterations and AR in trigeminal ganglion.

PMID 42760511
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