COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec. 19, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ascendis Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ASND) today announced that YORVIPATH® (palopegteriparatide; developed as TransCon PTH) is now commercially available by prescription in the United States. YORVIPATH is a prodrug of parathyroid hormone (PTH [1-34]), administered once-daily, designed to provide continuous exposure to active PTH over the 24-hour dosing period. It is the first and only medicine approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism in adults.
“Members of our community have shared so many stories of positive changes in their lives while participating in clinical trials of YORVIPATH,” said Patty Keating, Executive Director of the HypoPARAthyroidism Association. “We are thrilled that YORVIPATH is now available in the United States, giving patients and physicians here a new approach to treating the underlying cause of this often-debilitating hormone deficiency.”
“We are pleased to make YORVIPATH commercially available in the United States, where it is the first and only FDA-approved treatment of hypoparathyroidism in adults,” said Jan Mikkelsen, Ascendis Pharma’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We recognize the urgent unmet medical needs of the hypoparathyroidism community and are committed to doing all we can to ensure patients have affordable and broad access to YORVIPATH.”
Reflecting this commitment, Ascendis has established a dedicated YORVIPATH team within the U.S. Ascendis Signature Access Program® to support the patient treatment journey, which is staffed by specially trained nurses and offers a full suite of programs designed to help patients, caregivers, and physicians navigate each step of the treatment process. These include clinical education, assistance with prior authorization and appeals, training on proper injection procedures, and co-pay and other related assistance for eligible patients.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Risk of Unintended Changes in Serum Calcium Levels Related to Number of Daily Injections
Use only one YORVIPATH injection to achieve the recommended once daily dosage. Using two YORVIPATH injections to achieve the recommended once daily dosage increases the variability of the total delivered dose, which can cause unintended changes in serum calcium levels, including hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia.
Serious Hypercalcemia
Serious events of hypercalcemia requiring hospitalization have been reported with YORVIPATH. The risk is highest when starting or increasing the dose of YORVIPATH but may occur at any time. Measure serum calcium 7 to 10 days after any dose change or if there are signs or symptoms of hypercalcemia, and at a minimum of every 4 to 6 weeks once the maintenance dose is achieved. Treat hypercalcemia if needed. If albumin-corrected serum calcium is greater than 12 mg/dL, withhold YORVIPATH for at least 2-3 days. For less serious hypercalcemia, adjust the dose of YORVIPATH, active vitamin D, and/or calcium supplements.
Serious Hypocalcemia
Serious events of hypocalcemia have been observed with PTH products, including YORVIPATH. The risk is highest when YORVIPATH is abruptly discontinued, but may occur at any time, even in patients who have been on stable doses of YORVIPATH. Measure serum calcium 7 to 10 days after any dose change or if there are signs or symptoms of hypocalcemia, and at a minimum of every 4 to 6 weeks once the maintenance dosage is achieved. Treat hypocalcemia if needed, and adjust the dose of YORVIPATH, active vitamin D, and/or calcium supplements if hypocalcemia occurs.
Potential Risk of Osteosarcoma
YORVIPATH is a PTH analog. An increased incidence of osteosarcoma (a malignant bone tumor) has been reported in male and female rats treated with PTH analogs, including teriparatide. Osteosarcoma occurrence in rats is dependent on teriparatide or PTH dose and treatment duration. Osteosarcoma has been reported in patients treated with teriparatide in the postmarketing setting; however, an increased risk of osteosarcoma has not been observed in observational studies in humans. There are limited data assessing the risk of osteosarcoma beyond 2 years of teriparatide use.
YORVIPATH is not recommended in patients who are at increased risk of osteosarcoma, such as patients with:
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Open epiphyses. YORVIPATH is not approved in pediatric patients.
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Metabolic bone diseases other than hypoparathyroidism, including Paget’s disease of bone.
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Unexplained elevations of alkaline phosphatase.
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Bone metastases or a history of skeletal malignancies.
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History of external beam or implant radiation therapy involving the skeleton.
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Hereditary disorders predisposing to osteosarcoma.
Instruct patients to promptly report clinical symptoms (e.g., persistent localized pain) and signs (e.g., soft tissue mass tender to palpation) that could be consistent with osteosarcoma.
Orthostatic Hypotension
Orthostatic hypotension has been reported with YORVIPATH. Associated signs and symptoms may include decreased blood pressure, dizziness (including postural dizziness), palpitations, tachycardia, presyncope, or syncope. Such symptoms can be managed by dosing at bedtime, while reclining. YORVIPATH should be administered initially when the patient can sit or lie down due to the potential of orthostatic hypotension.
Risk of Digoxin Toxicity with Concomitant Use of Digitalis Compounds
YORVIPATH increases serum calcium, and therefore, concomitant use with digoxin (which has a narrow therapeutic index) may predispose patients to digitalis toxicity if hypercalcemia develops. Digoxin efficacy may be reduced if hypocalcemia is present. When YORVIPATH is used concomitantly with digoxin, measure serum calcium and digoxin levels routinely, and monitor for signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity. Refer to the digoxin prescribing information for dose adjustments, if needed.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions (≥ 5%) in patients treated with Yorvipath were injection site reactions (39%), vasodilatory signs and symptoms (28%), headache (21%), diarrhea (10%), back pain (8%), hypercalcemia (8%) and oropharyngeal pain (7%).
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Drugs Affected by Serum Calcium
Digoxin: YORVIPATH increases serum calcium, therefore, concomitant use with digoxin (which has a narrow therapeutic index) may predispose patients to digitalis toxicity if hypercalcemia develops. Digoxin efficacy may be reduced if hypocalcemia is present. When YORVIPATH is used concomitantly with digoxin, measure serum calcium and digoxin levels, and monitor for signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity. Adjustment of the digoxin and/or YORVIPATH dose may be needed.
Drugs Known to Affect Serum Calcium
Drugs that affect serum calcium may alter the therapeutic response to YORVIPATH. Measure serum calcium more frequently when YORVIPATH is used concomitantly with these drugs, particularly after these drugs are initiated, discontinued, or dose adjusted.
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
Pregnancy
Available data from reports of pregnancies in the clinical trials from drug development are insufficient to identify a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. If YORVIPATH is administered during pregnancy, or if a patient becomes pregnant while receiving YORVIPATH, healthcare providers should report YORVIPATH exposure by calling 1-844-442-7236.
Lactation
Monitor infants breastfed by females treated with YORVIPATH for symptoms of hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia. Consider monitoring serum calcium in the breastfed infant.
You are encouraged to report side effects to FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Ascendis Pharma at 1-844-442-7236.
Please click here to review full Prescribing Information for YORVIPATH® in the United States.
About Hypoparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism is an endocrine disease caused by insufficient levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), the primary regulator of calcium and phosphate balance in the body, acting directly on bone, kidney, and indirectly on the intestine. Individuals with hypoparathyroidism may experience a range of severe and potentially life-threatening short-term and long-term complications, including neuromuscular irritability, renal complications, extra-skeletal calcifications, and cognitive impairment. Post-surgical hypoparathyroidism accounts for the majority of cases (70-80%), while other etiologies include autoimmune and idiopathic causes.
About Ascendis Pharma A/S
Ascendis Pharma is applying its innovative TransCon technology platform to build a leading, fully integrated biopharma company focused on making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by its core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, Ascendis uses its TransCon technologies to create new and potentially best-in-class therapies. Ascendis is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark and has additional facilities in Europe and the United States. Please visit ascendispharma.com to learn more.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding Ascendis’ future operations, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to (i) Ascendis’ ability to ensure patients have affordable and broad access to YORVIPATH, (ii) Ascendis’ ability to apply its TransCon technology platform to build a leading, fully integrated biopharma company, and (iii) Ascendis’ use of its TransCon technologies to create new and potentially best-in-class therapies. Ascendis may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions, expectations, and projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that Ascendis makes, including the following: dependence on third party manufacturers, distributors and service providers for Ascendis’ products and product candidates; unforeseen safety or efficacy results in Ascendis’ development programs or on-market products; unforeseen expenses related to commercialization of any approved Ascendis products; unforeseen expenses related to Ascendis’ development programs; unforeseen selling, general and administrative expenses, other research and development expenses and Ascendis’ business generally; delays in the development of its programs related to manufacturing, regulatory requirements, speed of patient recruitment or other unforeseen delays; Ascendis’ ability to obtain additional funding, if needed, to support its business activities; the impact of international economic, political, legal, compliance, social and business factors. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Ascendis’ business in general, see Ascendis’ prospectus supplement filed on September 20, 2024 and Ascendis’ current and future reports filed with, or submitted to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including its Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on February 7, 2024. Forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future licensing, collaborations, acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, or investments that Ascendis may enter into or make. Ascendis does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Ascendis, Ascendis Pharma, the Ascendis Pharma logo, the company logo, TransCon, Ascendis Signature Access Program® (A.S.A.P), and YORVIPATH® are trademarks owned by the Ascendis Pharma group.
© December 2024 Ascendis Pharma A/S.
