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General Information
Parsabiv (etelcalcetide) is a calcium-sensing receptor agonist.
Parsabiv is specifically indicated for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in adult patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis.
Mechanism of Action
Parsabiv (etelcalcetide) is a calcimimetic agent that allosterically modulates the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). Etelcalcetide binds to the CaSR and enhances activation of the receptor by extracellular calcium. Activation of the CaSR on parathyroid chief cells decreases PTH secretion.
Side Effects
Adverse effects associated with the use of Parsabiv may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Blood calcium decreased
- Muscle spasms
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Hypocalcemia
- Paresthesia
Dosing/Administration
Parsabiv is supplied as an injection for intravenous administration. Prior to Parsabiv administration, dose increase, or re-initiation, ensure corrected serum calcium is at or above the lower limit of normal. The recommended starting dose of Parsabiv is 5 mg administered by intravenous (IV) bolus injection three times per week at the end of hemodialysis treatment. The maintenance dose of Parsabiv is individualized and determined by titration based on parathyroid hormone (PTH) and corrected serum calcium response. The maintenance dose is the dose that maintains PTH levels within the recommended target range and corrected serum calcium within the normal range. The lowest maintenance dose of Parsabiv is 2.5 mg three times per week, and the highest maintenance dose of Parsabiv is 15 mg three times per week.
Administer Parsabiv only at the end of hemodialysis treatment. If a regularly scheduled hemodialysis treatment is missed, do not administer any missed doses. Resume Parsabiv at the end of the next hemodialysis treatment at the prescribed dose. If doses of Parsabiv are missed for more than two weeks, re-initiate Parsabiv at the recommended starting dose of 5 mg (or 2.5 mg if that was the patient’s last dose).
Please see drug label for specific monitoring and dose requirement instructions.
Clinical Trial Results
FDA Approval
The FDA approval of Parsabiv was based on two 26-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. An aggregate of 1,023 patients with moderate-to-severe secondary HPT (PTH greater than 400 pg/mL) on hemodialysis were randomized to receive intravenous Parsabiv or placebo three times a week, at the end of their dialysis sessions in addition to standard of care that could include vitamin D and/or phosphate binders. The primary end point of both studies was the proportion of patients achieving greater than 30 percent reduction from baseline in PTH during the efficacy assessment phase (EAP), defined as Weeks 20 through 27. Secondary end points included the proportion of patients with PTH less than or equal to 300 pg/mL during the EAP; and percentage reductions in PTH, albumin-adjusted calcium (cCa), phosphate (P) and cCa x P during the EAP. The two studies showed that significantly more Parsabiv than placebo patients, respectively, achieved:
- A greater than 30 percent reduction from baseline in PTH during the EAP: 77 percent versus 11 percent in Study 1, and 79 percent versus 11 percent in Study 2
- PTH levels of 300 pg/mL or less during the EAP: 52 percent versus 6 percent in Study 1, and 56 percent versus 5 percent in Study 2
Additionally, greater percentage reduction from baseline was achieved in Parsabiv-treated patients than placebo-treated patients during the EAP, for PTH, corrected calcium and phosphate in both studies.