Marcocci, Claudio

Abstract Background Hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM) is the most common metabolic complication of malignancies, but its incidence may be declining due to potent chemotherapeutic agents. The high mortality associated with HCM has declined markedly due to the introduction of increasingly effective chemotherapeutic drugs. Despite the widespread availability of efficacious medications to treat HCM, evidence-based recommendations to manage this debilitating condition are lacking. Objective To develop guidelines for the treatment of adults with HCM. Methods A multidisciplinary panel of clinical experts, together with experts in systematic literature review, identified and prioritized 8 clinical questions related to the treatment of HCM in adult patients. The systematic reviews (SRs) queried electronic databases for studies relevant to the selected questions. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to assess the certainty of evidence and make recommendations. An independent SR was conducted in parallel to assess patients' and physicians' values and preferences, costs, resources needed, acceptability, feasibility, equity, and other domains relevant to the Evidence-to-Decision framework as well as to enable judgements and recommendations. Results The panel recommends (strong recommendation) in adults with HCM treatment with denosumab (Dmab) or an intravenous (IV) bisphosphonate (BP). The following recommendations were based on low certainty of the evidence. The panel suggests (conditional recommendation) (1) in adults with HCM, the use of Dmab rather than an IV BP; (2) in adults with severe HCM, a combination of calcitonin and an IV BP or Dmab therapy as initial treatment; and (3) in adults with refractory/recurrent HCM despite treatment with BP, the use of Dmab. The panel suggests (conditional recommendation) the addition of an IV BP or Dmab in adult patients with hypercalcemia due to tumors associated with high calcitriol levels who are already receiving glucocorticoid therapy but continue to have severe or symptomatic HCM. The panel suggests (conditional recommendation) in adult patients with hypercalcemia due to parathyroid carcinoma, treatment with either a calcimimetic or an antiresorptive (IV BP or Dmab). The panel judges the treatments as probably accessible and feasible for most recommendations but noted variability in costs, resources required, and their impact on equity. Conclusions The panel's recommendations are based on currently available evidence considering the most important outcomes in HCM to patients and key stakeholders. Treatment of the primary malignancy is instrumental for controlling hypercalcemia and preventing its recurrence. The recommendations provide a framework for the medical management of adults with HCM and incorporate important decisional and contextual factors. The guidelines underscore current knowledge gaps that can be used to establish future research agendas.

ABSTRACT Conventional therapy for hypoparathyroidism consisting of active vitamin D and calcium aims to alleviate hypocalcemia but fails to restore normal parathyroid hormone (PTH) physiology. PTH replacement therapy is the ideal physiologic treatment for hypoparathyroidism. The double-blind, placebo-controlled, 26-week, phase 3 PaTHway trial assessed the efficacy and safety of PTH replacement therapy for hypoparathyroidism individuals with the investigational drug TransCon PTH (palopegteriparatide). Participants (n = 84) were randomized 3:1 to once-daily TransCon PTH (initially 18 μg/d) or placebo, both co-administered with conventional therapy. The study drug and conventional therapy were titrated according to a dosing algorithm guided by serum calcium. The composite primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of participants at week 26 who achieved normal albumin-adjusted serum calcium levels (8.3–10.6 mg/dL), independence from conventional therapy (requiring no active vitamin D and ≤600 mg/d of calcium), and no increase in study drug over 4 weeks before week 26. Other outcomes of interest included health-related quality of life measured by the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), hypoparathyroidism-related symptoms, functioning, and well-being measured by the Hypoparathyroidism Patient Experience Scale (HPES), and urinary calcium excretion. At week 26, 79% (48/61) of participants treated with TransCon PTH versus 5% (1/21) wiplacebo met the composite primary efficacy endpoint (p < 0.0001). TransCon PTH treatment demonstrated a significant improvement in all key secondary endpoint HPES domain scores (all p < 0.01) and the SF-36 Physical Functioning subscale score (p = 0.0347) compared with placebo. Additionally, 93% (57/61) of participants treated with TransCon PTH achieved independence from conventional therapy. TransCon PTH treatment normalized mean 24-hour urine calcium. Overall, 82% (50/61) treated with TransCon PTH and 100% (21/21) wiplacebo experienced adverse events; most were mild (46%) or moderate (46%). No study drug-related withdrawals occurred. In conclusion, TransCon PTH maintained normocalcemia while permitting independence from conventional therapy and was well-tolerated in individuals with hypoparathyroidism. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). Abstract TransCon PTH is an investigational once-daily prodrug providing sustained release of active PTH designed to maintain stable PTH levels in the physiological range for 24 hours/day. The PaTHway trial met all primary and key secondary endpoints with statistically significant differences from placebo. Most adverse events (AEs) were mild/moderate. Injection-site reactions and headaches were the most common treatment-related AEs.

ABSTRACT The last international guidelines on the evaluation and management of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) were published in 2014. Research since that time has led to new insights into epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, measurements, genetics, outcomes, presentations, new imaging modalities, target and other organ systems, pregnancy, evaluation, and management. Advances in all these areas are demonstrated by the reference list in which the majority of listings were published after the last set of guidelines. It was thus, timely to convene an international group of over 50 experts to review these advances in our knowledge. Four Task Forces considered: 1. Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Genetics; 2. Classical and Nonclassical Features; 3. Surgical Aspects; and 4. Management. For Task Force 4 on the Management of PHPT, Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) methodology addressed surgical management of asymptomatic PHPT and non-surgical medical management of PHPT. The findings of this systematic review that applied GRADE methods to randomized trials are published as part of this series. Task Force 4 also reviewed a much larger body of new knowledge from observations studies that did not specifically fit the criteria of GRADE methodology. The full reports of these 4 Task Forces immediately follow this summary statement. Distilling the essence of all deliberations of all Task Force reports and Methodological reviews, we offer, in this summary statement, evidence-based recommendations and guidelines for the evaluation and management of PHPT. Different from the conclusions of the last workshop, these deliberations have led to revisions of renal guidelines and more evidence for the other recommendations. The accompanying papers present an in-depth discussion of topics summarized in this report. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Abstract Context Hypoparathyroidism is characterized by insufficient levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). TransCon PTH is an investigational long-acting prodrug of PTH(1-34) for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism. Objective This work aimed to investigate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of daily TransCon PTH in adults with hypoparathyroidism. Methods This phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 4-week trial with open-label extension enrolled 59 individuals with hypoparathyroidism. Interventions included TransCon PTH 15, 18, or 21 µg PTH(1-34)/day or placebo for 4 weeks, followed by a 22-week extension during which TransCon PTH dose was titrated (6-60 µg PTH[1-34]/day). Results By Week 26, 91% of participants treated with TransCon PTH achieved independence from standard of care (SoC, defined as active vitamin D = 0 μg/day and calcium [Ca] ≤ 500 mg/day). Mean 24-hour urine Ca (uCa) decreased from a baseline mean of 415 mg/24h to 178 mg/24h by Week 26 (n = 44) while normal serum Ca (sCa) was maintained and serum phosphate and serum calcium-phosphate product fell within the normal range. By Week 26, mean scores on the generic 36-Item Short Form Health Survey domains increased from below normal at baseline to within the normal range. The Hypoparathyroidism Patient Experience Scale symptom and impact scores improved through 26 weeks. TransCon PTH was well tolerated with no treatment-related serious or severe adverse events. Conclusion TransCon PTH enabled independence from oral active vitamin D and reduced Ca supplements (≤ 500 mg/day) for most participants, achieving normal sCa, serum phosphate, uCa, serum calcium-phosphate product, and demonstrating improved health-related quality of life. These results support TransCon PTH as a potential hormone replacement therapy for adults with hypoparathyroidism.

Abstract Background: Hypoparathyroidism (HP) is characterized by insufficient levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), resulting in hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypercalciuria, and a reduced quality of life (QoL). PTH replacement therapy should restore physiologic levels of PTH and restore downstream physiologic levels of calcitriol, promoting independence from Ca and active vitamin D supplements and normalization of QoL. TransCon PTH is an investigational long-acting prodrug of PTH(1–34) for the treatment of HP. During the initial 4-week fixed-dose period of the PaTH Forward Trial, TransCon PTH enabled 82% of subjects to achieve independence from standard of care (SoC; no active vitamin D and Ca ≤ 500 mg/day) compared to 15% with placebo. Here, we report 6-month (Week 26) results from the open-label extension (OLE). Methods: PaTH Forward is a phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating TransCon PTH in adult HP patients treated with SoC. Subjects received fixed doses of TransCon PTH 15, 18, or 21 µg PTH(1–34)/day or placebo for 4 weeks, followed by an OLE period during which TransCon PTH dose was titrated (6–30 µg PTH[1–34]/day) per individual dosing requirement. Safety and efficacy endpoints were evaluated at predefined timepoints over the OLE. Endpoints were evaluated at Week 26 including 1) sCa, 2) 24-hour uCa, 3) independence from active vitamin D, and 4) independence from therapeutics doses of oral calcium. QoL was assessed by the SF-36 and the Hypoparathyroidism Patient Experience Scales (HPES). Results: All 59 subjects completed the initial 4-week period and continued in the OLE; 58 subjects continue in the OLE beyond 6 months (1 withdrew unrelated to safety or efficacy). TransCon PTH enabled independence from SoC (no active vitamin D and Ca ≤ 500 mg/day) in 91% of subjects and independence from all supplements (no active vitamin D and no Ca) in 76% of subjects by Week 26. Mean 24-hour uCa decreased from a baseline mean of 415 mg/24h to 178 mg/24h by Week 26 (n = 44) while maintaining sCa, and reducing sP and CaxP to fall within the normal range. The mean scores for all SF-36 summary and domains increased from below normal at baseline to within the normal range by Week 26. The HPES Symptom and Impact scores continuously improved through 26 weeks for TransCon PTH and placebo subjects switching to TransCon PTH. TransCon PTH continued to be well-tolerated with no treatment-related serious or severe adverse events. Conclusions: Results from the OLE of the PaTH Forward Trial demonstrated that TransCon PTH continued to enable independence from active vitamin D and Ca supplements for most subjects while maintaining normal sCa, sP, uCa, and demonstrating enhanced quality of life, supporting its potential as a hormone replacement therapy for patients with HP. TransCon PTH will be further evaluated in the phase 3 PaTHway Trial.

Abstract Background: Hypoparathyroidism (HP) is caused by a deficiency in parathyroid hormone (PTH), which leads to hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. Standard of care (SoC), i.e. large doses of calcium (Ca) and active vitamin D, worsens hypercalciuria and increases the serum Ca (sCa) x serum phosphate (sP) product. Studies have shown that continuous subcutaneous infusion of PTH(1-34) normalizes sCa, sP, serum magnesium, urine Ca (uCa) and bone turnover better than SoC or once- or twice-daily injections of PTH in HP patients. TransCon PTH, an investigational long-acting prodrug of PTH (1-34) transiently bound to an inert carrier via a linker, is under development as a potential once-daily replacement therapy for HP. Under physiological conditions, linker auto-cleavage occurs, releasing active PTH at a controlled rate with ~60 hour half-life. Phase 1 trial results demonstrated that once-daily TransCon PTH provided a flat, infusion like profile within the normal range of PTH 24 hours per day, increasing sCa while controlling uCa and decreasing sP, with no evidence of bone anabolic activity. Phase 2 Design: PaTH Forward is a global phase 2 trial evaluating the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of TransCon PTH in adult subjects with HP. Patients with HP treated with SoC were randomized at sites worldwide to daily TransCon PTH 15, 18 or 21 µg PTH(1-34) or daily blinded placebo via pen-injector for 4 weeks. The primary composite endpoint requires 1) normal albumin-adjusted sCa, and 2) normal Fractional Excretion of Ca (or ≥50% decrease from baseline), and 3) not taking active D, and 4) taking ≤1000 mg/d of Ca. After four weeks, all subjects enter an open-label extension period with the opportunity to receive TransCon PTH individually optimized to doses of 6 to 30 µg daily to evaluate long-term safety and efficacy. Other endpoints include the impact of treatment on patient experience, CaxP product, bone turnover markers, and bone mass by DXA and TBS to confirm the lack of anabolic effect. Preliminary Results: Approximately 55 subjects are expected to be randomized and dosed. Preliminary diary data on the initial 8 subjects completing 4 weeks of follow-up in the extension trial shows that all have discontinued SoC. Additional information will be presented at ENDO 2020. The Phase 2 trial is designed to inform the starting dose for a global pivotal phase 3 trial and evaluate TransCon PTH as a “true” PTH replacement therapy.

Purpose: To provide practice recommendations for the diagnosis and management of hypoparathyroidism in adults. Methods: Key questions pertaining to the diagnosis and management of hypoparathyroidism were addressed following a literature review. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane databases from January 2000 to March 2018 using keywords ‘hypoparathyroidism, diagnosis, treatment, calcium, PTH, calcidiol, calcitriol, hydrochlorothiazide and pregnancy’. Only English language papers involving humans were included. We excluded letters, reviews and editorials. The quality of evidence was evaluated based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. These standards of care for hypoparathyroidism have been endorsed by the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Results: Hypoparathyroidism is a rare disease characterized by hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia and a low or inappropriately normal serum parathyroid hormone level (PTH). The majority of cases are post-surgical (75%) with nonsurgical causes accounting for the remaining 25% of cases. A careful review is required to determine the etiology of the hypoparathyroidism in individuals with nonsurgical disease. Hypoparathyroidism is associated with significant morbidity and poor quality of life. Treatment requires close monitoring as well as patient education. Conventional therapy with calcium supplements and active vitamin D analogs is effective in improving serum calcium as well as in controlling the symptoms of hypocalcemia. PTH replacement is of value in lowering the doses of calcium and active vitamin D analogs required and may be of value in lowering long-term complications of hypoparathyroidism. This manuscript addresses acute and chronic management of hypoparathyroidism in adults. Main conclusions: Hypoparathyroidism requires careful evaluation and pharmacologic intervention in order to improve serum calcium and control the symptoms of hypocalcemia. Frequent laboratory monitoring of the biochemical profile and patient education is essential to achieving optimal control of serum calcium.