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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

PubMedEuropean journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V2026-05-24

Hydrogels-based nasal sprays for nose-to-brain delivery: Formulation strategies, composite systems, and performance optimization.

Wang Xinshuang X, Huang Wenna W, Zhou Yanyan Y, Zhu Kewu K

Nose-to-brain drug delivery has been extensively investigated for central nervous system therapy due to its ability to bypass the blood-brain barrier and reduce systemic exposure. Among available intranasal dosage forms, hydrogels-based nasal sprays have emerged as a promising platform due to their ability to prolong nasal residence and enable controlled drug release. This review, from the perspective of formulation-oriented design of hydrogel nasal sprays, focuses on composite systems, spray performance, and drug specific strategies in addition to material selection. Recent advances highlight the integration of nanocarriers within hydrogel matrices to achieve coordinated control of drug protection, release behavior, and mucosal retention, effectively addressing key challenges in nasal drug delivery. Meanwhile, key spray-related critical quality attributes, including viscosity, droplet size, and spray dynamics, are extensively reviewed with respect to their effects on nasal cavity deposition and nose-to-brain delivery efficiency. Finally drug specific formulation design is discussed as a central factor guiding strategies for small molecules, macromolecules, and oligonucleotide drugs. Overall, this review proposes a formulation-oriented and systems-level framework to guide the rational development and clinical translation of hydrogels-based nasal spray dosage forms for nose-to-brain drug delivery.

PMID 42176871
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PubMedThe Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology2026-05-24

Safety and Efficacy of a Novel Radiofrequency Device for Submucosal Turbinate Reduction - A Prospective, Open-Label Pilot Trial.

Daoud Amani A, Geva Shiri S, Hassidov Erez E, Gruber Maayan M et al.

Inferior turbinate (IT) hypertrophy is a major cause of nasal obstruction. Although surgical intervention is effective, it can be associated with morbidity and prolonged recovery. This study evaluated the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of a novel submucosal fractional radiofrequency (FRF) treatment. A prospective, single-arm, open-label study was conducted from March to November 2024. Patients with nasal obstruction caused by IT hypertrophy unresponsive to at least 1 month of medical treatment were included in the study. The procedure was performed endoscopically under topical anesthesia using FRF. Outcomes were assessed using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and endoscopic turbinate grading at baseline, 1 month, and 3 months after the procedure. The safety outcomes included pain scale, adverse events, and complications. A total of 22 patients completed the protocol. The NOSE score improved from 71.2 to 30.0 at 1 month (P < .001). Sustained NOSE score improvement was observed at 3 months (37.1, P < .001). The VAS scores for nasal obstruction decreased from 7.4 to 3.2 at 1 month and 3.9 at 3 months (P < .0001). Endoscopic grading of turbinate size demonstrated a reduction at both follow-up points (P < .05). The average VAS score for pain was 3.4, indicating good tolerability. No bleeding, synechiae, or other adverse events were reported. Crusting appeared in 50% of patients at 1 month, resolving in all but 1 patient by 3 months. A significant correlation was observed between the pulse count and symptom improvement (P = .02). Submucosal FRF treatment leads to significant and sustained improvement in nasal obstruction with minimal pain and no major adverse events. These results support the safety, efficacy, and tolerability of the procedure for IT hypertrophy in an outpatient setting. Larger cohorts and long-term follow-up studies are warranted to refine the treatment and further validate these findings. 3.

PMID 42175854
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PubMedJournal of stomatology, oral and maxillofacial surgery2026-05-24

Median Cleft Nose: Failure of Cartilage Assembly-A Retrospective Descriptive Case Series of Three Patients.

Allam Karam K

Median cleft nasal deformity is traditionally described as a disorder of midline development, encompassing varying degrees of tissue deficiency, malposition, and excess. However, intraoperative findings in the present series suggest that, in selected patients, the cartilaginous framework is present but structurally disorganized rather than absent, with implications for surgical strategy. Three patients with median cleft nasal deformity within the frontonasal dysplasia spectrum underwent reconstruction between 9 and 12 months of age using a technique based on mobilization, reorientation, and centralization of native cartilaginous structures. Follow-up ranged from 3.5 to 5 years (mean, 4.3 years). All patients demonstrated improved midline alignment and dorsal projection, with maintained framework alignment during follow-up, although dorsal projection remained modest relative to age-matched norms. No clinically evident loss of projection or recurrent cartilaginous divergence was observed during available follow-up. Outcomes were achieved without the use of cartilage grafting. Median cleft nasal deformity, in selected cases, appears to reflect disorganization of an existing cartilaginous framework rather than true deficiency. Early reconstruction by centralization of native structures may help restore a coherent framework within a staged treatment approach. These observations are preliminary and require confirmation in larger series with objective assessment and longer follow-up.

PMID 42176895
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PubMedScientific reports2026-05-24

Simultaneous spectrofluorimetric determination of nasal cyclic nucleotides as biochemical markers in post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction using supramolecular-enhanced derivative spectroscopy.

Alsobky Mahmoud E ME, Younes Ahmed A, Al Kamaly Omkulthom O, Elaidy Sherif M SM

Olfactory dysfunction has been linked to changes in the levels of two essential second messengers involved in olfactory signal transduction: cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Herein, cAMP and cGMP in nasal secretions were determined simultaneously using a cyclodextrin-based spectrofluorimetric technique in conjunction with first-derivative synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. Using hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, fluorescence was enhanced, resulting in reduced spectrum overlap and increased signal strength. Synchronous fluorescence scanning at a wavelength interval (Δλ) of 50 nm, followed by first-derivative manipulation, enabled selective determination of cAMP at 420 nm and cGMP at 455 nm. The method exhibited linear responses over the concentration range of 1-100 ng/mL with acceptable correlation coefficients. The limits of detection were 0.210 ng/mL for cAMP and 0.252 ng/mL for cGMP, while the limits of quantification were 0.630 ng/mL and 0.756 ng/mL, respectively. Clinical application of the developed platform revealed an observed depletion of nasal cyclic nucleotide levels in patients with post-COVID-19 olfactory loss. Concentrations of cAMP and cGMP in the patient group were markedly reduced (19.37 ± 3.18 and 9.24 ± 1.20 ng/mL, respectively) compared to healthy individuals (73.25 ± 6.20 and 39.64 ± 3.18 ng/mL). Statistical validation through ROC curve analysis yielded AUC values of 0.99 for cAMP and 0.98 for cGMP, suggesting the suitability of the developed method for the sensitive analysis of these biomarkers in complex biological matrices, which helps in understanding the biochemical changes associated with olfactory dysfunction.

PMID 42177344
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PubMedAmerican journal of infection control2026-05-24

Changes in nasal and oral microbiota composition during a ten-day decolonization course with mupirocin and povidone-iodine: A real-world case series.

Scheier Thomas C TC, Demeter Tomas T, Franz Jessica J, Duvnjak Branko B et al.

Microbiota composition influences methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) colonization, yet the contribution of the oral microbiota and the impact of decolonization approaches remain insufficiently explored. In this study, we report microbiota shifts in three adults with oral MRSA colonization who underwent decolonization treatment including povidone-iodine. Relative bacterial abundances fluctuated across oral sites and over time, indicating distinct ecological responses to treatment. These findings improve our understanding of how the oral microbiota may affect MRSA decolonization and highlight the importance of oral microbial dynamics to guide more personalized and effective strategies.

PMID 42176855
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PubMedKidney international2026-05-24

Nociceptive sensory nerves induce an IL4Rαhi anti-inflammatory macrophage subset that protects against kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Zhang Shun S, Pan Xiuwu X, Liu Hailong H, Chen Kaikai K et al.

Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1+ (TRPV1+) sensory nerves, usually involved in transmitting pain and itch signals, densely innervate the kidney. Since the kidney is not a classic pain-sensitive organ, the roles of these sensory nerves beyond pain perception remain unknown. Here, we reveal a neuroimmune axis wherein TRPV1+ nociceptive sensory neurons protect against kidney ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury by inducing an anti-inflammatory macrophage subset. We employed reporter mice to visualize TRPV1+ nociceptive sensory nerves and used retrograde neuronal tracing to identify the activation of kidney-innervating TRPV1+ neurons during kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury. To examine their function, we applied multiple nociceptor ablation strategies (genetic and chemical) and activation approaches. Macrophage responses were analyzed using flow cytometry and RNA sequencing, while molecular signaling pathways were investigated with pharmacological inhibitors and in vitro stimulation assays. Urinary calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels and macrophage profiles were also assessed in post-nephrectomy patients to validate clinical relevance. Nociceptive sensory nerves are activated by inflammation during kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury and initiate protective anti-inflammatory programs by releasing CGRP, which signals through Receptor Activity Modifying Protein 1 (RAMP1) receptors on macrophages to induce a unique interleukin 4 receptor alpha (IL4Rαhi) population via cAMP PKA-CREB-dependent pathway. CGRP synergizes with IL-4 to promote the anti-inflammatory and pro-healing function of macrophages. Elevated urinary CGRP levels correlated with reduced kidney injury markers (KIM-1 and NGAL) and higher proportions of anti-inflammatory macrophages in post nephrectomy patients. Our findings redefine nociceptors as active regulators of kidney inflammation and homeostasis, leveraging CGRP to convert macrophages into anti-inflammatory phenotypes to protect against kidney injury, offering new therapeutic opportunities for AKI.

PMID 42176775
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