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The American Thyroid Association (ATA) diagnostic criteria for postoperative hypoparathyroidism are useful to doctors in grouping patients based on symptoms, which could help in managing the disease, a study reported. “However,” the researchers wrote, differentiating patients in this way “may underestimate the actual incidence,” or the number of…

Global Genes has partnered with the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition (RDDC) to advance health equity for rare disease patients and caregivers in underrepresented communities of color. “For rare disease patients, there are many challenges — and for people of color with a rare disease, these challenges are compounded…

The Rare Disease Diversity Coalition (RDDC) awarded $600,000 in grants to ease the disparities faced by rare disease patients of color. These Impact Rare Disease Solution grants will go five RDDC steering committee working groups, which aim to identify problems for rare disease communities and advocate for solutions. The five…

AZP-3601, an investigational treatment for chronic hypoparathyroidism, was able to safely increase blood calcium levels in healthy volunteers in a Phase 1 clinical trial, top-line data show. “We are pleased with these clinical trial results for AZP-3601 … as they support a potential therapeutic profile that we believe can address…

A new U.S. initiative called Rare Disease Cures Accelerator–Data and Analytics Platform — dubbed RDCA–DAP — aims to accelerate treatment innovation across rare diseases by sharing existing patient data and promoting the standardization of new data collection. Launched during a virtual workshop in September, the U.S. Food and Drug…

A routine procedure called PGA — for parathyroid gland autotransplantation — often done following surgery to remove the thyroid gland, is associated with a higher risk of immediate hypoparathyroidism, a study shows. However, PGA did not raise the risk of permanent hypoparathyroidism, or that lasting more than six months.

Football and science seem to be disparate fields of play at first glance, but the nonprofit Uplifting Athletes is finding common ground by leveraging the popularity of college gridiron games to fund research for rare diseases. Its nearly two dozen chapters — representing college football teams across the nation…

Amolyt Pharma has raised $80 million in financing that will support the clinical development of AZP-3601, its experimental therapy for hypoparathyroidism. Hypoparathyroidism is caused by abnormally low levels of the parathyroid hormone (PTH), leading to low vitamin D and calcium levels, as well as high phosphorus levels…

A newly launched non-profit institute is seeking to advance research, and the development of new therapies, for people with rare diseases — a patient community with some of the largest therapeutic needs, but one that is often left behind. Named the Institute for Life Changing Medicines, the project was…

In a woman whose severe hypoparathyroidism did not respond to standard treatment, constant infusion of a lab-engineered form of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) eliminated symptoms and improved her quality of life, a case study from Portugal reports. This medication, called Forsteo (teriparatide) and marketed in the U.S. as…