Pharmaprojects R&D Pipeline News Feed
Preos on route to first-in-class treatment for hypoparathyroidism
24 Sep 2007
NPS Pharmaceuticals' recombinant human parathyroid hormone Preos has been granted US orphan drug status for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism. Already launched for the treatment of osteoporosis, it has potential to become a first-in-class therapy for this second indication. Supporting proof-of-concept results have been very encouraging, especially when compared to current palliative treatments.
Hypoparathyroidism is a rare deficiency of parathyroid hormone caused by injury to or removal of the parathyroid hormone glands during neck surgery or as an autoimmune disorder associated with HIV infection. It affects 65,000 people in the US and 120,000 outside the US.
Dr Francois Nader, the Executive Vice President and CEO of NPS voiced appreciation of the "FDA’s support of our efforts to evaluate the use of Preos as a hormone replacement therapy to treat hypoparathyroidism".
