Identification
Name Alendronate
Accession Number DB00630 (APRD00561)
Type small molecule
Description Alendronate is a nitrogen-containing, second generation bisphosphonate. Bisphosphonates were first used to treat Paget's disease in 1971. This class of medications is comprised of inorganic pyrophosphate analogues that contain non-hydrolyzable P-C-P bonds. Similar to other bisphosphonates, alendronate has a high affinity for bone mineral and is taken up during osteoclast resorption. Alendronate inhibits farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase, one of the enzymes in the mevalonic acid pathway involved in producing isoprenoid compounds that are essential for post-translational modification of small guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding proteins, such as Rho, Ras and Rab. Inhibition of this process interferes with osteoclast function and survival. Alendronate is used for the treatment of osteoporosis and Paget's disease.
Structure
Categories (*)
Molecular Weight 249.096
Groups approved
Monoisotopic Weight 249.016724799
Pharmacology
Indication For the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in women and Paget's disease of bone in both men and women.
Mechanism of action The action of Alendronate on bone tissue is based partly on its affinity for hydroxyapatite, which is part of the mineral matrix of bone. Alendronate also targets farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) synthase. Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (such as pamidronate, alendronate, risedronate, ibandronate and zoledronate) appear to act as analogues of isoprenoid diphosphate lipids, thereby inhibiting FPP synthase, an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. Inhibition of this enzyme in osteoclasts prevents the biosynthesis of isoprenoid lipids (FPP and GGPP) that are essential for the post-translational farnesylation and geranylgeranylation of small GTPase signalling proteins. This activity inhibits osteoclast activity and reduces bone resorption and turnover. In postmenopausal women, it reduces the elevated rate of bone turnover, leading to, on average, a net gain in bone mass.
Absorption Relative to an intravenous (IV) reference dose, the mean oral bioavailability of alendronate in women was 0.7% for doses ranging from 5 to 40 mg when administered after an overnight fast and two hours before a standardized breakfast. Oral bioavailability of the 10 mg tablet in men (0.59%) was similar to that in women (0.78%) when administered after an overnight fast and 2 hours before breakfast.
Protein binding 78%
Biotransformation There is no evidence that alendronate is metabolized in humans or animals.
Route of elimination Following a single IV dose of [14C]alendronate, approximately 50% of the radioactivity was excreted in the urine within 72 hours and little or no radioactivity was recovered in the feces.
Toxicity Alendronate can damage the esophagus both by toxicity from the medication itself and by nonspecific irritation secondary to contact between the pill and the esophageal mucosa, similar to other cases of "pill esophagitis."
Affected organisms
  • Humans and other mammals
Interactions
Drug Interactions
Drug Mechanism of interaction
Calcium Formation of non-absorbable complexes
Calcium Acetate Calcium Salts may decrease the serum concentration of Bisphosphonate Derivatives such as alendronate. Avoid administration of oral calcium supplements within 30 minutes after alendronate.
Calcium Chloride Calcium salts may decrease the serum concentration of bisphosphonate derivatives. Avoid administration of oral calcium supplements within 30 minutes after alendronate/risedronate.
Diclofenac Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Diflunisal Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Etodolac Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Fenoprofen Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Flurbiprofen Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Ibuprofen Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Indomethacin Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Iron Dextran Formation of non-absorbable complexes
Ketorolac Increased risk of gasrtic toxicity
Magnesium Formation of non-absorbable complexes
Mefenamic acid Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Nabumetone Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Naproxen Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Oxaprozin Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Oxyphenbutazone Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Piroxicam Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Tenoxicam Increased risk of gastric toxicity
Food Interactions
  • Take 30-60 minutes before breakfast.
  • Take with a full glass of water.
Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase
Name Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthetase
Gene Name FDPS
Pharmacological action yes
Actions inhibitor
References
  • Bergstrom JD, Bostedor RG, Masarachia PJ, Reszka AA, Rodan G: Alendronate is a specific, nanomolar inhibitor of farnesyl diphosphate synthase. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2000 Jan 1;373(1):231-41. - Pubmed
  • Chen X, Ji ZL, Chen YZ: TTD: Therapeutic Target Database. Nucleic Acids Res. 2002 Jan 1;30(1):412-5. - Pubmed
  • Dunford JE, Thompson K, Coxon FP, Luckman SP, Hahn FM, Poulter CD, Ebetino FH, Rogers MJ: Structure-activity relationships for inhibition of farnesyl diphosphate synthase in vitro and inhibition of bone resorption in vivo by nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2001 Feb;296(2):235-42. - Pubmed
  • Guo RT, Cao R, Liang PH, Ko TP, Chang TH, Hudock MP, Jeng WY, Chen CK, Zhang Y, Song Y, Kuo CJ, Yin F, Oldfield E, Wang AH: Bisphosphonates target multiple sites in both cis- and trans-prenyltransferases. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jun 12;104(24):10022-7. Epub 2007 May 29. - Pubmed
DTHybrid score 1.0718
Hydroxyapatite
Name Hydroxyapatite
Gene Name Not Available
Pharmacological action yes
Actions antagonist
References
  • Jahnke W, Henry C: An in vitro assay to measure targeted drug delivery to bone mineral. ChemMedChem. 2010 May 3;5(5):770-6. - Pubmed
  • Nancollas GH, Tang R, Phipps RJ, Henneman Z, Gulde S, Wu W, Mangood A, Russell RG, Ebetino FH: Novel insights into actions of bisphosphonates on bone: differences in interactions with hydroxyapatite. Bone. 2006 May;38(5):617-27. Epub 2005 Jul 20. - Pubmed
DTHybrid score Not Available
Tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 4
Name Tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 4
Gene Name PTPN4
Pharmacological action unknown
Actions inhibitor
References
  • Opas EE, Rutledge SJ, Golub E, Stern A, Zimolo Z, Rodan GA, Schmidt A: Alendronate inhibition of protein-tyrosine-phosphatase-meg1. Biochem Pharmacol. 1997 Sep 15;54(6):721-7. - Pubmed
DTHybrid score 1.0504
Receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase S
Name Receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase S
Gene Name PTPRS
Pharmacological action unknown
Actions inhibitor
References
  • Opas EE, Rutledge SJ, Golub E, Stern A, Zimolo Z, Rodan GA, Schmidt A: Alendronate inhibition of protein-tyrosine-phosphatase-meg1. Biochem Pharmacol. 1997 Sep 15;54(6):721-7. - Pubmed
  • Schmidt A, Rutledge SJ, Endo N, Opas EE, Tanaka H, Wesolowski G, Leu CT, Huang Z, Ramachandaran C, Rodan SB, Rodan GA: Protein-tyrosine phosphatase activity regulates osteoclast formation and function: inhibition by alendronate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Apr 2;93(7):3068-73. - Pubmed
  • Chen X, Ji ZL, Chen YZ: TTD: Therapeutic Target Database. Nucleic Acids Res. 2002 Jan 1;30(1):412-5. - Pubmed
DTHybrid score 1.5317
Receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase epsilon
Name Receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase epsilon
Gene Name PTPRE
Pharmacological action unknown
Actions inhibitor
References
  • Schmidt A, Rutledge SJ, Endo N, Opas EE, Tanaka H, Wesolowski G, Leu CT, Huang Z, Ramachandaran C, Rodan SB, Rodan GA: Protein-tyrosine phosphatase activity regulates osteoclast formation and function: inhibition by alendronate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1996 Apr 2;93(7):3068-73. - Pubmed
DTHybrid score 1.0508
V-type proton ATPase catalytic subunit A
Name V-type proton ATPase catalytic subunit A
Gene Name ATP6V1A
Pharmacological action unknown
Actions inhibitor
References
  • David P, Nguyen H, Barbier A, Baron R: The bisphosphonate tiludronate is a potent inhibitor of the osteoclast vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. J Bone Miner Res. 1996 Oct;11(10):1498-507. - Pubmed
DTHybrid score 2.1754
Id Partner name Gene Name Score
6058 Geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthetase GGPS1 0.1179
6548 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase ispH 0.097
687 Tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type 1 PTPN1 0.0812
6547 Isopentenyl-diphosphate Delta-isomerase 1 IDI1 0.0696
6647 Geranyltranstransferase (Farnesyldiphosphate synthase) ispA 0.0522
6596 Short-chain Z-isoprenyl diphosphate synthetase Rv1086 0.0423
5744 Undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthetase uppS 0.0421
2756 Geranyltranstransferase ispA 0.042
6576 Geranylgeranyl transferase type-2 subunit beta RABGGTB 0.0365
6575 Geranylgeranyl transferase type-2 subunit alpha RABGGTA 0.0365
290 Prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 PTGS2 0.0349
4284 Pentaerythritol tetranitrate reductase onr 0.0348
4128 Protein farnesyltransferase subunit beta FNTB 0.0305
4129 Protein farnesyltransferase/geranylgeranyltransferase type I alpha subunit FNTA 0.0299
3188 IspD/ispF bifunctional enzyme [Includes: 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4- phosphate cytidylyltransferase ispDF 0.0259
862 Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 ABCC1 0.024
1994 Geranylgeranyl transferase type-1 subunit beta PGGT1B 0.0237
6540 Prenyltransferase Not Available 0.0224
2383 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase ispF 0.0208
2937 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase ispF 0.0208
4620 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase ispF 0.0208
6594 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase ispF 0.0208
6609 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase ispF 0.0208
6646 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase ispF 0.0208
6595 Lantibiotic nisin-Z nisZ 0.0189
6574 GTPase KRas KRAS 0.0151