BRL-50481 is a drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline which is the first compound that acts as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor selective for the PDE7 family.[1] PDE7 activity is encoded by two genes, PDE7A and PDE7B. BRL-50481 actually shows about an 80-fold preference for the PDE7A subtype, for which it was developed, over PDE7B.[2] BRL-50481 has been shown to increase mineralisation activity in osteoblasts, suggesting a potential role for PDE7 inhibitors in the treatment of osteoporosis.[3]
^Pekkinen M, Ahlström ME, Riehle U, Huttunen MM, Lamberg-Allardt CJ (July 2008). "Effects of phosphodiesterase 7 inhibition by RNA interference on the gene expression and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cell-derived osteoblasts". Bone. 43 (1): 84–91. doi:10.1016/j.bone.2008.02.021. PMID18420479.