Shandong Chemists Make Fatty-Acid Versions of Teriparatide That Match Its Bone Effects and Last Longer in Serum
Researchers at Shandong University and the Shandong Academy of Pharmaceutical Science reported in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry on October 16, 2026 that they used a site-specific chemical ligation method to attach fatty acids of different lengths to teriparatide, the bone-building osteoporosis drug that must be injected daily. Of 12 lipidated versions, four matched native teriparatide's bone-building activity in lab and animal tests, and the lead compound, called 62, was markedly more stable in serum. The goal is a longer-acting osteoporosis injection; the work is preclinical.