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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

PubMedThe Permanente journal2026-10-15

A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Interest in Dupilumab for Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyposis.

Huynh Pauline Phuong PP, Kshirsagar Rijul R, Liang Jonathan J

The objective was to evaluate the rapid progress and interest regarding the role of dupilumab in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP). The Web of Science Core Collection database was queried in a single day for publications using terms "dupilumab" and a combination of "chronic sinusitis," "rhinosinusitis," and "polyposis" without time restrictions. Document type, years, authors, countries with economic estimates, institutions, journal information, and keywords were analyzed and visualized using VOSviewer. Only original investigation and review articles were included for analysis. Further analysis of the top 10 cited articles were performed. Following deduplication, 358 unique publications were abstracted. Most studies were published in the United States (25.7%), followed by Italy (17.9%) and Japan (9.4%). Studies were most frequently published in the International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology (n = 21) followed by The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice (n = 17). B Claus was the most cited author pertaining to this topic, and the most frequent keywords and concepts spanned outcomes, immunology, allergy, and adverse events. Research regarding the use of dupilumab in the treatment of CRSwNP is rapidly evolving, highlighting the paradigm shift in treatment with the introduction of biologic therapy. This analysis showcased global interest in this topic, highlighting hallmark publications and prolific investigators, while also identifying areas for further exploration and collaboration.

PMID 42876213
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PubMedDrug delivery and translational research2026-10-15

In vitro, ex vivo and in vivo evaluation of polyelectrolyte nanogels for mucosal vaccines.

Bonaccorso Angela A, Corteggio Annunziata A, D'Apice Luciana L, Cardamone Antonio A et al.

Nasal administration is investigated as an effective mucosal site suitable for non-invasive vaccine delivery and able to elicit both systemic and mucosal immunity. Delivery of proteins across the epithelial barrier is a key point to induce an immune response. In this framework, nanogels are properly designed to present the delivered antigen to the immune system, promoting their targeting to specific immune populations. Nanogels for nasal administration based on dextran sulfate and ϵ-poly-L-lysine have been prepared by polyelectrolyte complexation. To unlock the potential of mucosal vaccination, we evaluated nanogel for their ability to enhance antigen delivery across mucus barriers and promote immune activation. Using fluorescein-labelled ovalbumin as a model antigen, we investigated how nanogel governs antigen transport, cellular uptake, and presentation. Produced results showed that nanogel combines favourable physicochemical properties with mucoadhesive behaviour, enabling efficient interaction with the mucus layer. This translates into enhanced uptake and controlled intracellular trafficking in murine Bone Marrow-derived-Dendritic Cells, ultimately promoting effective antigen cross-presentation. Importantly, intranasal administration in vivo revealed prolonged antigen retention within the airway mucosa compared to the free antigen, indicating sustained local antigen availability. In addition, studies in human monocyte-derived macrophages provided preliminary information on the inflammatory response and intracellular fate of the nanogels in a human-relevant system. Together, these findings contribute to the preliminary preclinical characterization of the nanogel platform, while further studies are required to establish its immunogenicity and vaccine efficacy.

PMID 42875718
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PubMedThe Journal of craniofacial surgery2026-10-15

Canadian Ukraine Surgical Aid Program-Resurrection of the Temporalis Muscle Flap in War Injuries.

Teshima Tara L TL, Moore Katelyn K, Antonyshyn Oleh O

The Canadian Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP) was established to provide reconstructive craniofacial care to victims of war injuries in Ukraine. Operating under mission constraints-limited resources, staged follow-up by local surgeons, multidrug-resistant infections, and absent preoperative imaging or operative history-demands reconstructive techniques that are reliable, technically accessible, and manageable postoperatively without specialized equipment. To describe the anatomy, surgical technique, and versatile clinical applications of the temporalis muscle flap in the reconstruction of severe war-related craniofacial injuries encountered during a CUSAP surgical mission to Poland in September 2022. The authors present 4 cases of severe ballistic and blast craniofacial trauma treated using the temporalis muscle flap. Surgical technique, including flap elevation, zygoma osteotomy, and closure, is described in detail, along with strategies to prevent and manage donor-site temporal hollowing. The temporalis muscle flap was successfully used across a range of reconstructive indications: globe support and orbital floor reconstruction, obliteration of midface dead space, nasal lining, oral-nasal fistula repair, skull base coverage, and a split-flap dynamic sling for oral competence. All flaps provided reliable vascularized soft-tissue coverage, and postoperative management was successfully transitioned to local Ukrainian surgeons. The temporalis muscle flap remains an invaluable, technically feasible reconstructive option for complex craniofacial war injuries, particularly in resource-limited and time-sensitive surgical mission settings where free tissue transfer is impractical. Its versatility, ease of teaching, and low equipment burden make it a critical tool for global surgical education and reconstruction in the setting of armed conflict.

PMID 42876344
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PubMedPediatric pulmonology2026-10-15

Effectiveness of Surfactant Administration in Two Different Methods (MIST, INSURE) on the Short-Term Outcome of Preterm Infants With Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Heidarzadeh Fatemeh F, Pournajaf Samira S, Akbarian-Rad Zahra Z, Bozorgnezhad Nesae N et al.

Preterm birth (< 37 weeks) causes high neonatal mortality, with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) as a major complication due to surfactant deficiency. Surfactant administered via several methods. This study compares effectiveness and complications of two different methods of surfactant therapy. This randomized clinical trial was conducted involving two groups of a total of 80 neonates aged 28-34 weeks who, based on clinical conditions, required surfactant administration. In the INSURE method, the infant is first intubated with an appropriate size endotracheal tube, subsequently, surfactant is administered in a controlled manner using a feeding catheter and 20 cmH2O positive pressure ventilation (PPV) and 5 cmH2O positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) with a T-piece device, and in the MIST method, while the infant is on nasal CPAP with a PEEP of 5 cmH2O, a thin feeding catheter is inserted into the trachea and Surfactant is then slowly administered at the same dose, the catheter is immediately removed and nasal CPAP is continued. And the outcomes included the duration of respiratory support, need for surfactant re-administration, mechanical ventilation and complications such as pulmonary hemorrhage, pneumothorax evaluated. indicated that none of the infants in the MIST group developed pneumothorax, required a second dose of surfactant, or underwent mechanical ventilation, compared with 12.8% (p = 0.055), 10.3% (p = 0.123), and 10.3% (p = 0.123), respectively, in the INSURE group. similarly, the duration of CPAP support and oxygen therapy did not differ significantly between the groups. Although many of the findings did not reach statistical significance, MIST appears to be associated with potentially important clinical benefits that should not be overlooked. Further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to confirm these findings.

PMID 42876349
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PubMedFrontiers in medicine2026-10-15

Interocular symmetry of retinal and choroidal OCT parameters in precapillary pulmonary hypertension: a brief research report.

Dmuchowska Diana A DA, Ptaszyńska Katarzyna K, Konopińska Joanna J, Kamiński Karol K

To assess interocular symmetry of retinal and choroidal optical coherence tomography (OCT)-derived parameters in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) and healthy controls, and to evaluate the implications of symmetry for oculomics-based biomarker development. In this cross-sectional study, 29 patients with precapillary PH and 37 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent standardized spectral-domain OCT. Retinal and choroidal thicknesses, volumes and binarized choroidal biomarkers were quantified using validated protocols. Interocular agreement was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), Spearman's rank correlation (ρ), and paired testing with false discovery rate control. Median interocular agreement was good but parameter-specific (ICC 0.76 in precapillary PH and 0.78 in controls). In PH, agreement was highest for choroidal metrics. In controls, it was lowest for retinal pigment epithelium thickness. No systematic laterality bias was detected in PH, whereas two parameters remained significant in controls. Absolute inter-eye differences were small but greater in PH for selected temporal and nasal retinal thickness and volume subfields. Interocular agreement was parameter-specific in both groups. In precapillary PH, one-eye sampling appears most defensible for choroidal biomarkers. Selected retinal parameters showed poor agreement, or greater absolute differences in precapillary PH than in controls, and require individual validation.

PMID 42876665
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PubMedPediatric allergy and immunology : official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology2026-10-15

International survey of parental and patient perspectives on emerging adrenaline devices for community-based management of anaphylaxis: An EAACI task force report.

Gonzalez-Matamala M F MF, Patel N N, Kahn-Santoro D D, Knibb R R et al.

Intranasal adrenaline has been approved in multiple countries for anaphylaxis treatment, based primarily on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic comparisons to adrenaline autoinjectors (AAIs). To assess patient and caregiver perspectives regarding emerging non-injectable adrenaline routes. Online survey of adults and caregivers of children with food allergy prescribed AAIs, with international dissemination supported by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (February-April 2025). We analyzed 542 responses from caregivers and 224 from adults with food allergy. Effectiveness of adrenaline nasal spray (ANS) compared to AAI was rated "extremely important" by 78% of caregivers and 71% of adults. 48% of caregivers and 42% of adults were "extremely worried" that ANS may not work as well as AAI, and 50% and 44% (respectively) that it may not work well enough. Compared with AAI, respondents were less worried about ANS being painful or difficult to carry, and about fear/embarrassment around use, but more worried about side effects and knowing how to use it. Most anticipated being more comfortable using ANS than AAI, and over half anticipated earlier use during anaphylaxis. Only 17.2% of caregivers and 23.2% of adults preferred to be prescribed ANS only. There was interest in sublingual adrenaline due to portability and reduced needle-related burden, but confidence depended on comparable speed/effectiveness and feasibility during reactions. Non-injectable adrenaline is attractive to caregivers and adults, and may improve willingness to carry and use adrenaline. However, demand for evidence of effectiveness, safety, and real-world feasibility is high, highlighting important information needs for shared decision-making.

PMID 42876015
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