AstraZeneca hails phase-3 trial results for hypoparathyroidism drug

(Alliance News) - AstraZeneca on Tuesday hailed encouraging test results for its hypoparathyroidism drug eneboparatide.

Shares in the Cambridge, England-based pharmaceutical firm rose 0.2% to 13,528.00 pence on Tuesday afternoon in London.

AstraZeneca said around 31% of patients dosed with eneboparatide, or AZP-3601, met the composite primary endpoint in a phase-three trial, compared with 5.9% in the placebo group, after 24 weeks.

This means AZP-3601 patients exhibited "statistically significant and clinically meaningful normalisation" of albumin-adjusted serum calcium levels, as well as independence from active vitamin D and oral calcium supplements.

AZP-3601 is an investigational parathyroid hormone receptor agonist. It aims to bind to a specific conformation of the PTH receptor 1, to restore PTH function and manage the symptoms of hypoparathyroidism. The condition is "characterised by impaired regulation of calcium and phosphate, which can lead to a variety of neuromuscular, renal and skeletal manifestations," AstraZeneca explained.

The drug was tested in adults with chronic hypoparathyroidism. It also met all key secondary endpoints, such as normalisation of urinary calcium excretion in patients with hypercalciuria at baseline.

After week 24, patients continued to take AZP-3601 or were switched to AstraZeneca's drug from placebo for a 28-week open-label extension. Those who originally had received AZP-3601 maintained clinical benefits through week 52 "with some use of oral supplements", the company said.

Patients who took AZP-3601 also reported improvements in core physical symptoms and physical functioning.

Maria Luisa Brandi, an investigator in the trial from the IRCCS European Institute of Oncology, said the results support AZP-3601's potential "to stabilise serum calcium while preserving kidney and bone health, outcomes that are critical for improved patient functioning and successful long-term treatment".

Gianluca Pirozzi, senior vice president and head of Development, Regulatory and Safety for Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease, added that the findings reinforce "meaningful and sustained benefits in calcium regulation, symptom burden, physical function and bone health through functional restoration of PTH action".

By Holly Munks, Alliance News reporter

Comments and questions to newsroom@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Astrazeneca