Parsabiv

Product Overview

About Parsabiv

Parsabiv is a medicine used to reduce the levels of parathyroid hormone in adults who have high levels of this hormone because of their long-term kidney disease (secondary hyperparathyroidism).

What it is used for

Parsabiv is used in patients on haemodialysis (a technique for removing waste products from the blood using a blood filtration machine). High levels of parathyroid hormone can cause loss of calcium from the bones, bone pain and fractures, and heart and circulation problems.

How it is used

Parsabiv is available as a solution for injection. Treatment is started at a dose of 5 mg three times a week and the dose is then adjusted according to the patient’s parathyroid hormone level or calcium level. It is given at the end of a haemodialysis session into the line that leads back from the dialysis machine to the patient’s vein. In some circumstances, it can be given by injection into a vein. Parsabiv can only be obtained with a prescription.

How it works

When cells in the parathyroid gland detect high levels of calcium in the blood, they reduce the amount of parathyroid hormone entering the blood. The active substance in Parsabiv, etelcalcetide, is a calcimimetic. This means that it mimics the action of calcium on these cells and in this way, it reduces the parathyroid hormone levels in the blood. Reduced parathyroid hormone decreases the levels of calcium in the blood.

Active substance: etelcalcetide

Source: EMA EPAR