Cinacalcet (
INN) is a
drug that acts as a
calcimimetic (i.e. it mimics the action of
calcium on
tissues) by
allosteric activation of the
calcium-sensing receptor that is expressed in various human organ tissues (Van Wagenen
et al. (2001), U.S. Pat. 6,211,244). It is sold by
Amgen under the trade name
Sensipar in North America and Australia and as
Mimpara in Europe. Cinacalcet is used to treat secondary
hyperparathyroidism (elevated
parathyroid hormone levels), a consequence of end-stage renal disease. Cinacalcet is also indicated for the treatment of hypercalcemia in patients with parathyroid carcinoma. Cinacalcet was FDA approved in March 2004, and was the first allosteric G protein-coupled receptor modulator to enter the pharmaceutical market. In 2014, cinacalcet was 76th out of the top 100 drugs in the
list of largest selling pharmaceutical products.