FDA Approves Amgen Parathyroid Drug

Amgen Inc. on Tuesday announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its drug Parsabiv for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in adult patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. Hyperparathyroidism can develop in response to declining kidney function, creating an excess of hormone, which can lead to other health complications like bone thinning. The company said Parsabiv is the first approved treatment for the condition in 12 years. “We are excited about today’s approval of Parsabiv in the U.S. and the opportunity to provide patients and health care providers with a novel option to help treat a complex disease that affects a significant number of patients on hemodialysis,” Dr. Sean Harper, Amgen’s vice president of research and development, said in a statement. Amgen shares closed up $1.30, or less than a percent, to $168.12 on the Nasdaq.