Described herein are compositions having a peptide sequence that includes at least one bone targeting moiety, wherein the bone targeting moiety is bonded to the peptide sequence by a linker, wherein the peptide sequence is calcitonin, and wherein the composition is neutral or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof. In one aspect, calcitonin inhibits or slows osteoclast mediated resorptive bone loss. The compounds described herein can be used in a number of therapeutic applications including treating or preventing conditions associated with bone loss, which include, but are not limited to, osteoporosis, Paget's disease, osteolytic tumors, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Osteoarthritis, osteopenia, and hypercalcemia. Also described herein are the methods of making these compositions that prevent or treat conditions associated with bone loss and methods of preventing bone fractures.