Scientists discovered a drug that taken once a day for six weeks fully cured osteoporosis in some case and stopped it developing in others. So far they tested the drug on animals but believe the treatment could help humans with fragile bones one day.

Currently the drugs used in osteoporosis treatment slow bone loss without having an effect in stimulating new bone. The only drug with this effect is teripartide but it has to be injected. The new found drug called LP533401 has the advantage of being administered orally.

“With tens of millions of people worldwide affected by this devastating and debilitating bone loss, there is an urgent need for new treatments that not only stop bone loss, but also build new bone.” Researcher Professor Gerrard Karsenty said. “Using these findings, we are working hard to develop this type of treatment for patients.”

Researchers underline the fact that 10 more years are needed before the drug is in widespread use.  Dr Claire Bowring, of the National Osteoporosis Society, said: ‘If the results seen in the lab do translate to the real world, this could lead to a new way of treating osteoporosis but we need to keep in mind that this is still early days and the theory hasn’t been tested in humans.’