(HealthDay)—Natpara (parathyroid hormone) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to control low blood calcium among people with hypoparathyroidism.
Hypoparathyroidism is a rare disease that occurs when the body doesn't secrete enough parathyroid hormone, which regulates blood levels of calcium and phosphorus.
Hypoparathyroidism is typically caused by malfunctioning or surgically removed parathyroid glands. The condition affects about 60,000 people in the United States, the FDA said in a news release. Symptoms commonly include numbness, tingling, muscle twitching, cramps, abnormal heart rhythm and seizures. Longer-term complications may include kidney damage, kidney stones and cataracts.
Natpara, a once-daily injection, was evaluated in a clinical study of 124 people. Forty-two percent of those treated with Natpara achieved normal blood calcium levels, the FDA said.
The drug's label includes a boxed warning that bone cancer had been observed in a study of rats given Natpara. However, it's unknown if the drug would cause bone cancer among people, the FDA said.
The most common side effects of Natpara include tingling, pricking and burning of the skin, low blood calcium, headache, high blood calcium and nausea.
Natpara is produced by NPS Pharmaceuticals, based in Bedminster, N.J.
Explore further: Shire to buy specialty drugmaker NPS Pharma for $5.2 billion
More information: Learn more by visiting the FDA.
Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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(HealthDay)—Natpara (parathyroid hormone) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to control low blood calcium among people with hypoparathyroidism.
Hypoparathyroidism is a rare disease that occurs when the body doesn't secrete enough parathyroid hormone, which regulates blood levels of calcium and phosphorus.
Hypoparathyroidism is typically caused by malfunctioning or surgically removed parathyroid glands. The condition affects about 60,000 people in the United States, the FDA said in a news release. Symptoms commonly include numbness, tingling, muscle twitching, cramps, abnormal heart rhythm and seizures. Longer-term complications may include kidney damage, kidney stones and cataracts.
Natpara, a once-daily injection, was evaluated in a clinical study of 124 people. Forty-two percent of those treated with Natpara achieved normal blood calcium levels, the FDA said.
The drug's label includes a boxed warning that bone cancer had been observed in a study of rats given Natpara. However, it's unknown if the drug would cause bone cancer among people, the FDA said.
The most common side effects of Natpara include tingling, pricking and burning of the skin, low blood calcium, headache, high blood calcium and nausea.
Natpara is produced by NPS Pharmaceuticals, based in Bedminster, N.J.
Explore further: Shire to buy specialty drugmaker NPS Pharma for $5.2 billion
More information: Learn more by visiting the FDA.
Copyright © 2015 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Medical Xpress on facebook
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Shire to buy specialty drugmaker NPS Pharma for $5.2 billion
Jan 11, 2015
Irish drugmaker Shire PLC said Sunday it will pay $5.2 billion to acquire NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc., which specializes in drugs for rare conditions.
Investigational hormone replacement promising treatment for rare disorder
Jun 25, 2012
An investigational parathyroid hormone replacement effectively treated a rare disorder characterized by low calcium and high phosphate levels in the blood, a new study finds. The results will be presented at The Endocrine ...
Blincyto approved for rare leukemia
Dec 03, 2014
(HealthDay)—Blincyto (blinatumomab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat Philadelphia chromosome-negative precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a rare cancer of the bone marrow.
Small change in blood acidity could prove detrimental to kidney disease patients
Jan 05, 2015
(Medical Xpress)—A University of Manchester scientist has discovered that very small changes in the level of acidity in blood may have a detrimental impact on the health of patients with kidney disease.
US halts Amgen study after teen patient death (Update)
Feb 26, 2013
U.S. government health regulators have halted Amgen's studies of its drug Sensipar after the death of a 14-year-old patient in a company trial.
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