Safety of Fresolimumab in the Treatment of Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a rare disorder that causes bones to break easily. People with OI may have broken bones with little or no trauma, dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI), and, in adult years, hearing loss. OI can range from very severe to very mild. The current standard-of-care for severe types of OI involves the use of IV medications (bisphosphonates) and surgery to put rods in bones to strengthen them. These therapies, although often life-saving, are new and very little is known about their long-term effects on bone and other body systems. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is a protein important in bone formation. Fresolimumab is an antibody that can silence TGF-β . In studies with mice with OI, it has been shown that silencing TGF-β can lead to higher bone mass, quality and strength. The purpose of this study is to determine if fresolimumab is safe in the treatment of OI.