Tiny Glands, Big Impact: Spotlight on Parathyroid Health

Every July, Parathyroid Awareness Month shines a spotlight on the vital—but often overlooked—role the parathyroid glands play in our health. These four tiny glands—each about the size of a grain of rice—are located behind the thyroid in the neck and are responsible for a critical function: regulating calcium and phosphate levels in the body.

Despite their importance, many people don't hear about the parathyroid glands until something goes wrong. This awareness month is a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of parathyroid disorders—especially hypoparathyroidism (often called hypopara), a rare endocrine disease caused by missing or low levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) that can significantly affect daily life.

Why the Parathyroid Glands Matter

The parathyroid glands produce PTH, the key hormone responsible for maintaining calcium and phosphate balance in the body. When there isn't enough PTH—as in hypopara—these minerals fall out of balance. This disruption can interfere with how nerves signal, how muscles contract, and how bones maintain their strength.

People may experience symptoms such as muscle cramps or spasms, tingling in the fingers or face, fatigue, brain fog, or even seizures. Because calcium and phosphate are essential for so many body functions, an imbalance can affect everything from mobility to cognition—making daily life more difficult.

Recognizing Hypopara

Hypopara can result from autoimmune or genetic causes, but in about 75% of cases, it develops after neck surgery—most often when the parathyroid glands are accidentally damaged or removed during procedures like a thyroidectomy.

That's why it's essential for both patients and healthcare providers to understand these risks before surgery. Just as importantly, patients should be informed about the symptoms to watch for afterward—so they can recognize hypopara early and seek appropriate care.

Despite affecting an estimated 70,000 to 115,000 people in the U.S., hypopara is often underdiagnosed—largely because its symptoms can mimic more common conditions. Without proper awareness, patients may go years without an accurate diagnosis or effective treatment.

A Treatment that Targets the Root Cause

Historically, managing hypopara has meant taking high doses of calcium and active vitamin D. While this approach can help with symptoms, it does not address the underlying deficiency of PTH and may lead to a significant pill burden and potential long-term complications.

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.

Know the Signs, Ask Questions

If you suspect you may have hypopara—or are experiencing symptoms associated with it—talk to your doctor. Ask about testing your calcium, phosphate, and PTH levels. A timely diagnosis of hypopara can help uncover and address the root cause of PTH deficiency.

For those living with hypopara, organizations like the HypoPARAthyroidism Association offer support, resources, and real patient stories to help individuals and families feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Your parathyroid glands may be small, but their role in your health is huge. This Parathyroid Awareness Month, take a moment to learn more—and help others do the same.

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.