Shire outlines US distribution plans for new rare disease product

2 April 2015

Ireland-headquartered drugmaker Shire (LSE: SHP) revealed yesterday that Natpara (parathyroid hormone) for injection is now available in the USA.

The US Food and Drug Administration approved Natpara as an adjunct to calcium and vitamin D to control hypocalcemia in patients with hypoparathyroidism earlier this year (The Pharma Letter January 24). Natpara was developed by NPS Pharmaceuticals’ (Nasdaq: NPSP), which was acquired through a $5.2 billion takeover by Shire.

Because of the potential risk of osteosarcoma, Natpara is recommended only for patients who cannot be well-controlled on calcium supplements and active forms of vitamin D alone. Natpara was not studied in patients with hypoparathyroidism caused by calcium-sensing receptor mutations or in patients with acute post-surgical hypoparathyroidism, Shire noted.

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