Takeda announced this week that it will not continue manufacturing parathyroid hormone Natpara starting at the end of 2024.
In the statement, the company said that the decision came after years of exploring “numerous ways to address the Natpar/Natpara protein particle issue to improve sustainable supply.” But following evaluation of a U.S. Complete Response Letter received this week, stakeholders determined it cannot solve the rubber particle formation issue, which led to a recall of the product in 2019.
Natpara, a manmade form of a naturally occurring hormone, was first approved in January 2015. It was originally developed by NPS Pharmaceuticals. Takeda acquired the drug with its $62 billion takeover of Shire in 2018. The product was designed to treat hypoparathyroidism, a rare endocrine disorder in which the body doesn’t produce enough levels of the parathyroid hormone, involved in the regulation of calcium and phosphorus.