CALCITRIOL DERIVATIVES AND THEIR USES

摘要

A method of treating metabolic bone diseases such as osteoporosis, as well as other disease states treatable with vitamin D compounds, comprises administering an effective amount of one or more modified vitamin D compounds. The modified compound contains a typical vitamin D nucleus but with in vivo hydrolyzable groups at one or more of the 1, 3 and 25 carbon positions. The time of conversion of the modified compound to its active form, such as calcitriol, can be regulated to thus provide controlled release of the compound in vivo over time, by changing or modifying the hydrolyzable groups.