The present invention relates to a method of treating metabolic bone
diseases in a patient, which comprises the modulation of PEX activity to
modulate the bone micro-environmental concentrations of critical bone
anabolic agents, namely PTH and PTHrP. The present invention also
provides the use Of inhibitors of PEX activity, such as, the use of
inhibitors of NEP and/or ECE and/or PEX such as phosphoramidon, and
analogs thereof, to modulate and preferably increase PTH/PTHrP levels in
bone microenvironment to consequently result in an increase in bone
formation, as confirmed by serum bone markers, namely, osteocalcin, to
thereby provide a novel method for treating metabolic bone diseases, such
as osteomalacia, osteoporosis, osteopetrosis, Paget's disease and
X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets.