Cinacalcet's proposition

Although marketed vitamin D analogs are capable of suppressing the production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) to treat hyperparathyroidism (HPT), they can lead to episodes of abnormally increased levels of calcium and/or phosphorus. Looking to overcome these issues, Amgen Inc. and partner NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc. have been developing a more direct approach to treating the disease through the use of calcimimetics, compounds that target the calcium sense receptors (CaSRs).

Last week, AMGN (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) reported that cinacalcet (AMG 073) for secondary HPT achieved statistically significant efficacy as measured by metabolic endpoints in the first of three Phase III studies. NPSP (Salt Lake City, Utah) declined to provide details, noting that AMGN plans to present the data at a conference late this year. AMGN said it expects to file an NDA with the FDA in the second half of the year. ...