Preclinical test of sclerostin antibody conducted on space shuttle mission

Amgen and UCB are collaborating with the NASA Ames Research Center to conduct a preclinical test of a sclerostin antibody in an experiment that will take place aboard space shuttle Atlantis, which launched July 8.

The findings could provide insight into future research in the prevention and treatment of skeletal fragility resulting from conditions such as immobilization, stroke, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury and reduced physical activity.

Human bone mass loss during space flight is a significant problem, especially during long-term flights. The current experiment will test the effect of a sclerostin antibody — designed to inhibit sclerostin, a protein that is a key negative regulatory of bone formation, bone mass and bone strength — on bone loss associated with space flight in mice. The experiment will include 30 space-flown mice, half of which are given a sclerostin antibody and the other half placebo. After the flight, various aspects of the structure, composition, strength, and cell and molecular nature of the bones from the flight and ground-based control mice will be analyzed, according to a company press release.

“It is an honor to work with NASA on this historic final mission,” Chris Paszty, PhD, scientific executive director at Amgen, said in a press release. “This proof-of-principle study will enhance our understanding of the science behind the sclerostin antibody and arm us with important research to support potential future therapeutic applications in both astronauts and patients suffering from bone loss."

Amgen and UCB are currently studying AMG 785/CDP7851, a different sclerostin antibody than the one being used for the current mouse study, in the phase 2 setting for bone-related conditions, including postmenopausal osteoporosis and fracture healing.

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