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  5. Drug Trials Snapshot: NATPARA (parathyroid hormone)
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Drug Trials Snapshot: NATPARA (parathyroid hormone)

HOW TO USE THIS SNAPSHOT
The information provided in Snapshots highlights who participated in the clinical trials that supported the FDA approval of this drug, and whether there were differences among sex, race and age groups. The “MORE INFO” bar shows more detailed, technical content for each section. The Snapshot is intended as one tool for consumers to use when discussing the risks and benefits of the drugs.

LIMITATIONS OF THIS SNAPSHOT:
Do not rely on Snapshots to make decisions regarding medical care. Always speak to your health provider about the risks and benefits of a drug. Refer to the NATPARA Package Insert for complete information.

NATPARA (parathyroid hormone)
Nat-pah-ruh
NPS Pharmaceuticals
Approval date: January 23, 2015


DRUG TRIALS SUMMARY: 

What is the drug for?

NATPARA is a prescription parathyroid hormone used with calcium and vitamin D to control low blood calcium (hypocalcemia) in adults with low parathyroid hormone (PTH) blood levels (hypoparathyroidism). NATPARA is only for people who do not respond well to treatment with calcium and active forms of vitamin D alone, because it may increase the possible risk of bone cancer, known as osteosarcoma.

How do I use this drug?

Natpara is administered by injection one time each day in your thigh just under your skin. You should use NATPARA according to the instructions provided in the Instructions for Use document and follow the advice received from your doctor. 

What are the benefits of this drug?

NATPARA was more effective than a placebo in achieving a combined goal: reducing the amount required of oral calcium and vitamin D, while maintaining serum calcium levels.

Were there any differences in how well the drug worked in clinical trials among sex, race and age?

Subgroup analyses were conducted for sex, race and age.

  •  
  • Sex:  The number of patients in the main trial was small and the majority were female. NATPARA appeared to work similarly in men and women.
  • Race:  The number of non-white patients was limited; therefore, differences in response to NATPARA between white and non-white patients could not be determined.
  • Age:  The number of patients above 65 years of age was limited; therefore, differences in response to NATPARA between patients above and below 65 years of could not be determined.

What are the possible side effects?

NATPARA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Possible bone cancer (osteosarcoma). During animal drug testing, NATPARA caused some rats to develop a bone cancer called osteosarcoma. It is not known if people who take NATPARA will have a higher chance of getting osteosarcoma. NATPARA is only available through the NATPARA Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program. The purpose of the program is to inform patients about the potential risk of osteosarcoma associated with the use of NATPARA.
  • High blood calcium (hypercalcemia)
  • Low blood calcium (hypocalcemia)

The most common side effects associated with NATPARA that occurred more commonly on NATPARA than on placebo were a sensation of tingling or burning (paresthesia), low blood calcium (hypocalcemia), headache, hypercalcemia (high blood calcium), and nausea. 

NAPTARA and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. These include digoxin, alendronate, calcium supplements or food products that contain calcium, or active vitamin D.

Were there any differences in side effects among sex, race and age?

Subgroup analyses were conducted for sex, race and age.

  • Sex:  The number of patients in the main trial was small and the majority were female. There did not appear to be clinically meaningful differences in the frequency of side effects between men and women.
  • Race:  The number of patients in the non-white subgroup was limited. Therefore, differences among races could not be determined.
  • Age:  The number of patients above 65 years of age was limited. Therefore, differences between those above and below 65 years of age could not be determined

WHO WAS IN THE STUDY?

Who participated in the clinical trials?

The FDA approved NATPARA on evidence from one main trial with a total of 124 adults who were diagnosed with established hypoparathyroidism. The study was conducted in North America, France, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Hungary. The study did not include patients with hypoparathyroidism caused by calcium sensing receptor mutations or patients who had hypoparathyroidism for a brief period of time immediately following surgery.

Figure 1 summarizes how many men and women were enrolled in the clinical trial.

Figure 1. Baseline Demographics by Sex

Pie chart summarizing how many men and women were enrolled in the clinical trials used to evaluate efficacy of the drug NATPARA.  In total, 26 men (21%) and 98 (79%) women participated in the clinical trials used to evaluate efficacy of the drug NATPARA.Source: Adapted from FDA Statistical Review, Table 9

Figure 2 and Table 1 summarize the percentage of patients by race enrolled in the clinical trial. Figure 2. Baseline Demographics by Race

Figure 2. Baseline Demographics by Race  

Bar chart summarizing the percentage of patients by race enrolled in the clinical trials used to evaluate efficacy of the drug NATPARA. In total, 119 Whites (96.0%), 1 Black (0.8%), 2 Asian (1.6%), 1 Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (0.8%), and 1 patients identifying as Other (0.8%) participated in the clinical trials used to evaluate efficacy of the drug NATPARA.Source: Adapted from FDA Statistical Review, Table 9

Table 1. Baseline Demographics by Race for the Intent to Treat (ITT) Population

Race Number of Patients Percentage
White 119 96.0%
Black 1 0.8%
Asian 2 1.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 1 0.8%
Other 1 0.8%

Source: Adapted from FDA Statistical Review, Table 3-3

How was the study designed?

NATPARA was approved by the FDA based on a main study of 124 patients. The main study was a 24-week, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. The study enrolled patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism who were taking calcium and vitamin D. Of these 124 patients, 84 patients were randomly assigned to receive NATPARA and 40 patients were randomly assigned to a placebo. Neither the patients nor the health care professionals administering the drug knew which patients were taking NATPARA and which patients were taking a placebo, until after the study was complete.

GLOSSARY

CLINICAL TRIAL: Voluntary research studies conducted in people and designed to answer specific questions about the safety or effectiveness of drugs, vaccines, other therapies, or new ways of using existing treatments.
COMPARATOR: A previously available treatment or placebo used in clinical trials that is compared to the actual drug being tested.
EFFICACY: How well the drug achieves the desired response when it is taken as described in a controlled clinical setting, such as during a clinical trial.
PLACEBO: An inactive substance or “sugar pill” that looks the same as, and is given the same way as, an active drug or treatment being tested. The effects of the active drug or treatment are compared to the effects of the placebo.
SUBGROUP: A subset of the population studied in a clinical trial. Demographic subsets include sex, race, and age groups.

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