NPS Glossary of Scientific Terms

a bone resorption inhibiting drug that slows or halts the loss of bone due to osteoporosis, marketed by Merck as Fosamax®

a condition of progressive mental deterioration manifested by memory loss, confusion, and disorientation that begins after age 65 in its most common form, but the presenile forms can occur between the ages of 40 and 60; the course of the disease may take 10-15 years; death results from immobility.

one of a large group of organic compounds that are the building blocks of proteins and are the products of protein digestion

building up; the constructive phase of metabolism

one of a group of compounds that are similar in structure, but are different in composition

a drug that binds to receptors, inhibiting their function

a group of barbituric acid derivatives used as sedatives

a family of minor tranquilizers used for treating seizures and anxiety

the rate and extent to which a drug enters the general circulation and can be used by the body

an affective disorder characterized by periods of alternating mania and depression

a class of compounds that inhibit bone resorption

the ratio of bone mass to volume; a measurement that is useful in determining whether or not a patient has osteoporosis

the constant process of bone building and breakdown (formation and resorption)

a drug that blocks calcium receptors on the surface of parathyroid cells to stimulate a rapid, transient release of the body's own stores of parathyroid hormone, which may promote bone formation

a drug that acts at calcium receptors on the surface of parathyroid cells to lower the secretion of parathyroid hormone, a useful response in treating hyperparathyroidism.

a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that may be important for maintaining bone mineral density

an element important in bone growth and metabolism, as well as in other cellular functions

calcium receptor; a G protein-coupled cell surface receptor that enables parathyroid and other cells to detect and respond to small changes in extracellular calcium concentrations in order to maintain calcium levels in the blood within a narrow, tightly controlled range

a group of drugs from salts or esters of carbamic acid used for treating seizures

A calcimimetic compound discovered by NPS and licensed to Amgen that received FDA approval in March 2004 for the treatment of secondary HPT in chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis, and for the treatment of elevated calcium levels (hypercalcemia) in patients with parathyroid carcinoma. Information on Sensipar® (cinacalcet HCl) can be found at www.sensipar.com.

a cell or group of cells asexually descended from a single parent cell with an exact copy of the parent cell's genetic code

central nervous system

an inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal system that usually affects the small intestine and colon

an NMDA receptor antagonist developed by NPS scientists that may provide neuroprotection in stroke and head trauma

a chronic endocrine disorder that results from inadequate production or use of insulin

the process of diffusing blood across a semipermeable membrane to remove toxic materials and maintain fluid, electrolyte and acid-base balance in patients with kidney disease

deoxyribonucleic acid

excitatory amino acid receptor; antagonists of these receptors are being explored for treating various neurologic and psychiatric disorders

a drug's effectiveness in producing the desired result

pertaining to a gland that secretes hormones directly into the blood (e.g., pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands)

proteins in living cells that produce chemical changes

a host of neurological disorders that are characterized by recurrent seizures

hormone produced by the ovary; levels are reduced after menopause; estrogen replacement therapy has sometimes been used for reducing the risk of osteoporosis

calcium that is outside the cell; it acts on parathyroid cells to regulate PTH secretion

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

ingredients and properties for the preparation of a compound

Merck's brand name for the bisphosphonase, alendronate

a complex system of organs involved in the transport, digestion, and absorption of nutrients and elimination of waste products of metabolism

the basic unit of heredity, made of DNA

glucagon-like peptide 2; a hormone that regulates the growth, proliferation, and maintenance of the mucosal lining of the small intestine

symbol for glutamic acid

an excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system

the simplist amino acid, present in most proteins

glycine transporters; glycine reuptake inhibitors selectively block glycine transporters in the brain and are being developed to treat schizophrenia and pain

receptors that employ G proteins, which bind to guanine nucleotides and direct the flow of signals from the receptor to the rest of the cell

a fundamental constituent of DNA and RNA

marked by hemorrhage; in stroke, it is a weak spot in a blood vessel in the brain that bursts

process of maintaining bodily equilibrium and stability

an inherited disease of the CNS with a usual onset between the ages of 25 and 55 (35 is the average age); degeneration in the brain causes bizarre, involuntary dance-like movements and mental deterioration, ending in dementia; death usually results in 10 to 15 years

abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood

a condition that results from the oversecretion of PTH by the parathyroid glands resulting in hypercalcemia; symptoms include bone loss, bone pain, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, kidney stones, stomach problems, and mental dysfunction

abnormally low levels of calcium in the blood

inflammatory bowel disease; includes both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis

ionotropic glutamate receptors; these receptors respond to glutamate signals by opening ion channels in neurons, a process critical in the propagation of electrical signals from cell to cell

investigational new drug; an application that is filed with the FDA before beginning testing in humans

a loss of blood supply that can result in the death of cells

without the structure or characteristics of living bodies; in chemistry, chemical compounds that are not hydrocarbons or their derivatives

calcium inside the cell

in glass, as in a test tube; a test done in the laboratory usually in isolated tissues, organs, or cells

in a living body or organism; a test performed on a living organism

Investigational Review Board; reviews and approves clinical trial protocols

obstruction of blood flow; in a stroke, it often results from a blood clot

an orally active, small molecule developed by NPS scientists for the treatment of epilepsy and other neurological disorders

a test in animals that gives a chemical or electrical subseizure stimulus (i.e., one that would not cause a seizure on its own) over a period of time until the stimulus produces seizures, at which point the animals are considered to be kindled; it is used to test the efficacy of treatments for epilepsy

a molecule, such as an antibody, hormone, or drug that binds to a receptor

receptors that respond to the lysolipid, lysophosphatidic acid, which is a product of the metabolic breakdown of biological membranes; all cells can produce lysolipids

a thin layer that lines or separates organs or structures

the period in which there is a permanent cessation of menstrual activity, usually occurring between the ages of 35 and 58

metabotropic glutamate receptors; these receptors respond to glutamate by activating proteins inside nerve cells that affect cell metabolism to keep neuronal activity in balance

pertaining to the mucous membrane or moist tissue layer that lines the hollow organs and cavities of the body

a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that causes damage to nerve cells

new drug application; filed with the FDA after clinical trials are successfully completed

the branch of medicine that deals with the nervous system and diseases of this system

a nerve cell, the structural and functional unit of the nervous system

channels in neurons through which charged atoms (ions) enter and alter the electrochemical balance of the cell

compounds that protect neurons, for example, during stroke until blood flow to the affected area of the brain can be reestablished

specialized chemicals that control cell-to-cell communication in the nervous system

National Institutes of Health; located in Bethesda, Maryland

N-methyl-D-asparate (a protein) receptor on neurons that is thought to be involved in stroke, learning, memory and other processes in the brain

molecules that link together to form the building blocks of DNA or RNA

a bone resorbing cell

a bone forming cell that helps to maintain bone as a living tissue by its metabolic activity

a decrease in bone density, less severe than osteoporosis

small glands near or on the thyroid gland that secrete PTH

a chronic neurological disease characterized by a slowly spreading tremor, muscular weakness and rigidity, and a peculiar gait

phencyclidine, an animal tranquilizer that is also widely used as an illicit hallucinogen; PCP-like behavioral side effects have been seen in some NMDA receptor antagonists

a compound containing two or more amino acids

the rate of movement of drugs within biological systems, as affected by uptake, binding, distribution and elimination

the science or study of drugs and their sources, chemistry, actions and uses

a test in healthy human volunteers to test the safety and tolerability of a drug

a test in patients with the targeted condition to test the efficacy and toxicity of a drug

a test in a large group of patients with the targeted condition to further test the efficacy and toxicity of a drug

a barbiturate related substance used as an anticonvulsant for treating epilepsy

a salt or acid of phosphoric acid; important in the maintenance of acid-base balance in the blood

a pharmacologically inactive substance given as a control in testing the efficacy of a drug

occurring after menopause

tests performed on a compound in the laboratory and in animals before it is advanced to human clinical trials

parathyroid hormone (rDNA origin) for injection; (ALX1-11) an exact reproduction of naturally occurring human parathyroid hormone that is a polypeptide consisting of 84 amino acids produced by genetically engineered ("recombinant") bacterial cells in a fermentation process. The FDA accepted the PREOS NDA for review July 9, 2005; pending approval.

primary hyperparathyroidism; a condition that usually affects postmenopausal women and is characterized by enlargement of one or more of the four parathyroid glands which produce excess amounts of PTH

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that is an antiresorptive agent in bone; it is marketed by Eli Lilly under the name Evista®

protein structures that protrude from the surface of cells and are capable of binding with other molecules such as hormones, antibodies, or antigens

(ALX1-11) an exact reproduction of naturally occurring human parathyroid hormone that is a polypeptide consisting of 84 amino acids produced by genetically engineered ("recombinant") bacterial cells in a fermentation process

the dissolution of a substance such as bone tissue by biochemical activity

recombinant human parathyroid hormone

short bowel syndrome; a condition that results when half or more of the small intestine is surgically removed as a result of intestinal damage

a disorder that creates dysfunction in thought processes and social functioning

enlargement of all four parathyroid glands and elevated circulating levels of parathyroid hormone; usually a physical response to failing kidneys

structures on the surface of cells that respond to sodium in the blood

a disruption of blood flow to the brain that causes a loss of brain function

the space between the junction of two neurons in a neural pathway across which neurotransmitters are exchanged

NPS' proprietary analog of glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2), currently in studies for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders

fragment of parathyroid hormone including 34 of the natural hormones 84 amino acids

a drug that causes the break up of a blood clot

extent and quality of being poisonous; a measure of a drug's ability to be tolerated safely

the study of toxic compounds, their effects and detection, antidotes, etc.

a poison produced by an organism

transporting ions or gases across a membrane, or the domain between the inner and outer layers of a membrane

an inflammatory bowel disease whose symptoms include bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain; in severe cases, symptoms may include acute bowel cramps, anemia, fever, dehydration, and weight loss

formation of clear spaces in cells filled with fluid or air

a compound derived from valproic acid (a carboxylic acid) used in the treatment of epilepsy and other neurological disorders; marketed by Abbott Laboratories as Depakote®

glossary of scientific terms