Upacicalcet Lowers PTH in Secondary Hyperparathyroidism on Hemodialysis
Clinical trial results for the investigational drug upacicalcet show it effectively reduces parathyroid hormone levels in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. The drug, which is already approved in Japan, is being developed for potential US regulatory submission.
Why it matters
New treatments for secondary hyperparathyroidism could improve patient outcomes and adherence compared to existing calcimimetics that often cause gastrointestinal side effects.
Upacicalcet, an investigational intravenous calcimimetic, significantly increased the proportion of patients receiving hemodialysis with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) who achieved at least a 30% reduction in intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) versus placebo, according to results from the identical phase 3 PATH-1 and PATH-2 trials.1
Jessica Kendrick, MD, MPH, of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, discussed the findings with HCPLive at ASN Kidney Week 2026 in Denver, Colorado.
Existing calcimimetics are limited by hypocalcemia and gastrointestinal adverse effects, which reduce adherence, Kendrick explained. Upacicalcet is a positive allosteric modulator of the calcium-sensing receptor and is already approved for SHPT in Japan.2 Pathalys Pharma is developing the agent for a potential US regulatory submission.
“It only works if the extracellular calcium levels are at a physiologic level,” Kendrick said. “So if they’re actually low, then it does not work, which is unlike other previous calcimimetics.”
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