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Amgen Seeks Approval for Parathyroid Drug

Amgen Inc. has applied to the Food and Drug Administration for permission to sell etelcalcetide, a treatment for hyperparathyroidism in patients on dialysis, the company announced Tuesday. The Thousand Oaks biotech said the drug binds to and activates a calcium-sensing receptor on the parathyroid gland, causing decreases in parathyroid hormone secretions. Elevated levels of the hormone are associated with chronic kidney disease patients on dialysis, and are linked to higher risk for stroke, heart disease and certain cancers. The condition affects about 2 million people worldwide, including 450,000 in the United States. “We look forward to working with regulatory authorities during the review process to bring this important treatment to market, helping to fill an unmet need,” Dr. Sean Harper, executive vice president of research and development at Amgen, said in a statement. Shares closed down $2.45 or 1.7 percent to $145.19 on the Nasdaq.

Joel Russel
Joel Russel
Joel Russell joined the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2006 as a reporter. He transferred to sister publication San Fernando Valley Business Journal in 2012 as managing editor. Since he assumed the position of editor in 2015, the Business Journal has been recognized four times as the best small-circulation tabloid business publication in the country by the Alliance of Area Business Publishers. Previously, he worked as senior editor at Hispanic Business magazine and editor of Business Mexico.

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