Hypoparathyroidism: How Awareness Can Lead to Better Care

Imagine constantly feeling exhausted, foggy, or even numb — and not knowing why. For thousands of people, that's the daily reality of living with hypoparathyroidism, more commonly known as hypopara — a rare and often misunderstood disease caused by missing or low levels of parathyroid hormone, the key regulator of calcium and phosphate balance in the body.

June 1 is World Hypoparathyroidism Awareness Day, a time for patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, and advocates to come together to raise awareness, share resources, and highlight advances in care. But most of all, it's about helping more people get the answers they need — and the care they deserve.

What is Hypoparathyroidism?

Hypopara occurs when the parathyroid glands — tiny glands in the neck — don't produce enough parathyroid hormone (PTH). Low or missing PTH leads to an imbalance in calcium and phosphate levels, making it difficult for the body to function normally and impacting multiple body systems.

Symptoms of hypopara can include muscle cramps or spasms, tingling or numbness in the fingers, toes, or face, persistent fatigue, cognitive issues like brain fog, and in severe cases, seizures. In addition to physical symptoms, hypopara can significantly affect mental well-being, daily functioning, social life, and personal relationships.

While hypopara can result from genetic or autoimmune causes, about 75% of cases result from damage to or the removal of the parathyroid glands during neck surgery, such as having a thyroidectomy.

More Than a Calcium Imbalance

Hypopara may be rare, but for the estimated 77,000 to 115,000 people in the U.S. living with it, the impact is constant. It's often misunderstood as just a "calcium issue," but for those with severe symptoms, the reality is much more complex and can be overwhelming.

Because hypopara symptoms resemble those of more common conditions, patients can often be overlooked — or told that what they're experiencing is "normal." This lack of action may leave patients feeling isolated, frustrated, and unheard.

In the face of ongoing symptoms, many patients turn to their healthcare teams for answers. When those answers don't resolve their symptoms, it can lead to further anxiety — especially when daily life is disrupted by persistent, unexplained issues.

That's why awareness matters. When patients recognize the signs and healthcare providers know what to look for, getting an accurate diagnosis becomes more achievable.

A Treatment Option that Targets the Root Cause

Even after diagnosis, treatment isn't simple. For years, patients have managed symptoms with high doses of calcium and active vitamin D, leading to a substantial pill burden. However, this approach doesn't replace the missing hormone. There may also be long-term health risks associated with taking large amounts of calcium and active vitamin D.

YORVIPATH^® is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for low parathyroid hormone in adults. It is a ready-to-use, once-daily injection that provides continuous exposure to active PTH throughout the 24-hour dosing period.

It is not known if YORVIPATH is safe in patients who were recently diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism after surgery, patients who start with low levels of calcium in the blood, and children. People should not use YORVIPATH if they are allergic to any of its ingredients. Some side effects include high and low levels of calcium in the blood, possible bone cancer, and dizziness when standing. For more detailed safety information, please refer to the end of this article.

YORVIPATH is intended to maintain serum calcium levels within the normal range without the need for active vitamin D or therapeutic doses of calcium. However, patients can continue taking calcium as needed to meet their daily dietary requirements.

Why Support and Awareness Matters

Starting a new treatment can feel overwhelming. That's why for patients starting on YORVIPATH, the Ascendis Signature Access Program^® (A•S•A•P) supports patients through every step — from getting started and navigating insurance to staying on track with treatment. They also offer educational resources to help patients feel more confident and informed.

Advocacy groups such as the HypoPARAthyroidism Association also offer education and online forums, giving patient communities the ability to connect.

World Hypoparathyroidism Awareness Day isn't just a date on the calendar — it's a call to action. Greater awareness means earlier diagnosis, more effective treatment, and more support for the people living with this chronic disease every day.

So, on June 1 — and every day — let's keep learning, listening, and sharing. Because the more we understand hypopara, the more we can support those affected.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND USE

What is the most important information I should know about YORVIPATH^®?

YORVIPATH may cause serious side effects, including:

• High levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia). YORVIPATH can cause some people to have higher blood calcium levels than normal. Your healthcare provider should check your blood calcium before you start and during your treatment with YORVIPATH. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have nausea, vomiting, dizziness, feeling thirsty, confusion, muscle weakness, or irregular heartbeat. Hypercalcemia is more likely to occur within the first 3 months of starting YORVIPATH, but it may occur at any time.
• Low levels of calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia). People who stop using, miss, or change a dose of YORVIPATH may have an increased risk of low blood calcium levels, but hypocalcemia may occur at any time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have tingling in your fingertips, toes, lips or tongue, muscle spasms or cramps, oral numbness, depression, have problems thinking or remembering, abnormal heart rhythms, or seizures.
• Possible bone cancer (osteosarcoma). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have pain in any areas of your body that does not go away or any new or unusual lumps or swelling under your skin that is tender to touch. These are some of the signs and symptoms of osteosarcoma and your healthcare provider may need to do further tests.

Who should not take YORVIPATH?

Do not use YORVIPATH if you are allergic to palopegteriparatide or any of the other ingredients in YORVIPATH.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking YORVIPATH?

Before using YORVIPATH, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• are at higher risk of a type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. This is especially important:

• • if you have a bone disease that increases your risk of developing osteosarcoma (including if you have Paget's disease).
  • if a blood test shows that you have unexplained increases in bone alkaline phosphatase.
  • if you have cancer of the bones or other cancer that has spread to your bones.
  • if you are having or have had radiation therapy to the skeleton.
  • if you are affected with a condition that runs in your family that can increase your chance of getting cancer in your bones.

• take medicines that contain digoxin, are used to treat osteoporosis, or can affect calcium levels in your blood.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if YORVIPATH will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant during treatment with YORVIPATH.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if YORVIPATH passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with YORVIPATH.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. YORVIPATH and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects.

What are the possible side effects of YORVIPATH?

YORVIPATH may cause serious side effects:

• Allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction, including anaphylaxis. Stop taking YORVIPATH and tell your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have swelling of your face, lips, mouth, or tongue, breathing problems, fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure), fast heartbeat, itching, rash, or hives.
• Decrease in blood pressure when you change positions (orthostatic hypotension). Some people may feel dizzy, get a fast heartbeat, or feel light-headed right after injecting YORVIPATH. For the first few doses, give your injection of YORVIPATH in a place where you can sit or lie down right away if you get these symptoms. If your symptoms get worse or do not go away, contact your healthcare provider before you continue using YORVIPATH.
• Digoxin toxicity if you are using digoxin and YORVIPATH at the same time. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience irregular heart rhythm, heart palpitations, confusion, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or vision problems.

The most common side effects of YORVIPATH include injection site reactions, vasodilatory signs or symptoms such as a drop in blood pressure or lightheadedness when standing up, headache, diarrhea, back pain, high calcium levels, and sore throat.

These are not all of the possible side effects of YORVIPATH. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report side effects to FDA www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Ascendis Pharma at 1-844-442-7236.

What is YORVIPATH used for?

YORVIPATH is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with low parathyroid hormone (PTH) (hypoparathyroidism).

• It is not known if YORVIPATH is safe and effective in people who have been recently diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism after surgery, or if it is started in people with low levels of calcium in the blood.
• It is not known if YORVIPATH is safe and effective in children.
• YORVIPATH should not be used in children and young adults whose bones are still growing.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information for YORVIPATH and Medication Guide.

For more information about YORVIPATH, please visit www.yorvipath.com or call +1 844-442-7236.