A series of xanthine sulfonamides is presented as a class of calcitonin (CT) inducers - a potentially new method for treating diseases associated with postmenopausal bone loss such as osteoporosis. We have found that certain di-n-butylxanthine sulfonamides 4 upregulate CT transcription in a CT-luciferase reporter gene assay (CT-luci) and increase the production and release of CT in a CT secretion/RIA assay (CTS). In addition, these compounds do not have potent PDE4 inhibitory activity as do the related xanthine methylene ketones such as denbufyllene (2). One compound in particular (9) shows a transcription activation ratio (TAR) of 2.1 in CT-luci, a CTS increase of 3.6-fold, and a PDE4 (phosphodiesterase type IV) IC(50) = 4.1 microM. In addition, this compound showed a statistically significant 47% trabecular bone protection in ovariectomized-induced osteopenia (OVX) rats as determined by assay when administered for 4 weeks at 30 mg/kg/day, i. p. by quantitative computed tomography (QCT). When administered p.o., compound 9 shows 50% trabecular bone protection when administered for 3 weeks at 50 mg/kg/day, i.p. This compared with salmon CT which shows 62% trabecular bone protection when administered at 50 IU/kg/day for 4 weeks.