Inhibitors of proteasomal activity for stimulating bone growth

Patent Number: 6902721

This patent teaches that proteosome inhibitors stimulate the growth of bone, in part through inhibition of the inflammatory-associated transcription factor NF-kB. It is unclear if the stimulation of bone growth works via activation of stem cells, or other mechanisms. The patent also discloses use for stimulation of hair growth, but that is not in the claims. The one independent claim is:

A method to enhance bone formation in a vertebrate animal which method comprises administering to a vertebrate animal in need of such treatment an effective amount of a compound that inhibits proteasomal activity and said compound being selected from the group consisting of a peptidyl aldehyde, and epoxomicin, whereby bone formation is enhanced in said vertebrate animal.

The patent is owned by a company called OsteoScreen, that in licensed its patents on hair growth to a company called Neosil.

View this patent on the USPTO website.