Etelcalcetide
Etelcalcetide is an FDA-approved calcium-sensing receptor agonist. Etelcalcetide is a synthetic D-amino-acid peptide that binds the calcium-sensing receptor on parathyroid chief cells at a site distinct from the calcium binding site, forming a disulfide bond with a cysteine residue on the receptor.
For research use only.
Key Facts
- CAS
- 1262780-97-1
- Molecular Weight (MW)
- 1048.3 g/mol
- Half-life
- —
- FDA status
- Approved
- Evidence level
- FDA Approved
- Human dose established
- Yes
- Administration Route
- Intravenous
- Frequency
- Three times weekly, at the end of hemodialysis
- Last updated
- Nov 7, 2026
- Reviewed
- Nov 7, 2026
Research summary
Peptide calcimimetic approved for secondary hyperparathyroidism in adults with chronic kidney disease on haemodialysis. It is given intravenously at the end of dialysis rather than orally.
Research evidence
- Regulatory review (FDA label)1 reviewed source
- Controlled human trialsNone in reviewed sources
- Early or uncontrolled human studiesNone in reviewed sources
- Lab & animal studiesNone in reviewed sources
How it works
Each step shows whether the sources Peptide Library has reviewed include that kind of research. Counts are reviewed sources, not every study ever published. Reviews and programme summaries that describe human use are shown as "reported", not as trials, and registered trials without published results are listed but not counted. A higher step means research has progressed further; it does not mean a compound works better or is safer. Compounds whose evidence has not been reviewed yet show "Not reviewed" instead of a guess.
Peptide Library's Etelcalcetide profile summarises 5 cited studies listed in the Science section, the compound's regulatory status, and research-protocol parameters reported for it. It is a research reference, not medical advice.
Etelcalcetide dosage evidence
Etelcalcetide has an FDA-approved human dosage. Parsabiv for secondary hyperparathyroidism in adults with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis starts at 5 mg as an intravenous bolus three times a week at the end of dialysis. The maintenance dose is set by PTH and calcium levels, from 2.5 mg to 15 mg three times a week.
| Human dosing established | Yes |
|---|---|
| Studied dose range | 2.5–15 mg three times weekly at the end of hemodialysis |
| Route | Intravenous |
| Frequency | Three times weekly, at the end of hemodialysis |
| Duration studied | Continuous |
| Titration | Increase in 2.5 mg or 5 mg steps no more often than every 4 weeks, up to 15 mg, while corrected calcium is normal and PTH is above target. Lower or pause for low PTH or low calcium. |
| Evidence level | FDA Approved |
| Last reviewed | 2026-11-07 |
Research-reported dosing
Doses as studied, one row per regimen. Different trials used different regimens; they are listed separately rather than averaged.
| Study / context | Population | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration | Outcome studied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDA label — Parsabiv, secondary hyperparathyroidismFDA-approved label · FDA prescribing information | Adults with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis with secondary hyperparathyroidism | Start 5 mg; maintenance 2.5–15 mg by PTH and corrected serum calcium | Intravenous bolus into the venous line of the dialysis circuit during or after rinse back | Three times weekly, at the end of hemodialysis | Continuous | PTH within target with normal serum calcium | PARSABIV (etelcalcetide) injection — FDA prescribing information, DailyMed |
Where sources disagree
- Parsabiv is given only at the end of a hemodialysis session; missed sessions are not made up. It has not been studied in, and is not recommended for, people with CKD who are not on hemodialysis.
- The label says to stop Parsabiv and treat low calcium if corrected serum calcium falls below 7.5 mg/dL or symptoms of hypocalcemia appear.
Sequence & molecular data
| Molecular formula | C38H73N21O10S2 |
|---|---|
| Molecular weight | 1048.3 g/mol |
| CAS number | 1262780-97-1 |
| PubChem CID | 71511839 |
| FDA UNII | 60ME133FJB |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL3545184 |
| DrugBank | DB12865 |
Identifiers link to the public PubChem, FDA Substance Registration (UNII), ChEMBL and DrugBank records for the same entity.
Science
Mechanism of Action
Etelcalcetide is a synthetic D-amino-acid peptide that binds the calcium-sensing receptor on parathyroid chief cells at a site distinct from the calcium binding site, forming a disulfide bond with a cysteine residue on the receptor. This allosteric activation increases receptor sensitivity to extracellular calcium, suppressing parathyroid hormone secretion and lowering serum calcium and phosphate.
Studies
- Effect of Etelcalcetide vs Cinacalcet on Serum Parathyroid Hormone in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis With Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: A Randomized Clinical Trial
- Effects of active vitamin D analogs and calcimimetic agents on PTH and bone mineral biomarkers in hemodialysis patients with SHPT: a network meta-analysis
- Calcimimetics treatment strategy for serum calcium and phosphate management in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism undergoing dialysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies
- Impact of Cinacalcet and Etelcalcetide on Bone Mineral and Cardiovascular Disease in Dialysis Patients
- Lessons from effect of etelcalcetide on left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with end-stage kidney disease
Research statistics
135 PubMed publications · 53.4% human clinical research · 20 registered trials
Counts of published research through 2026-11-01, not evidence that it works. Publications by year, study types and trials · How publications are counted
Regulatory & research status
Etelcalcetide is an FDA-approved product for specific labelled indications. Approval does not extend to the research contexts described on this page, and approved products are prescription medicines.
| FDA status | Approved |
|---|---|
| Research status | Approved product (see FDA status) |
| Availability | Prescription-Only |
| WADA (sport) | Unknown / Not Listed |
| Library classification | FDA-Approved |
How FDA approval, compounding and research-only status differ
Benefits
—
Etelcalcetide side effects
No side effects listed yet for this entry.
Storage & stability
This compound is not supplied as a powder to be mixed, so the freeze-dried powder and reconstitution handling described for research peptides does not apply. Storage conditions are product-specific: follow the label or packaging of the product itself.
Etelcalcetide: frequently asked questions
What is Etelcalcetide?
Peptide calcimimetic approved for secondary hyperparathyroidism in adults with chronic kidney disease on haemodialysis. It is given intravenously at the end of dialysis rather than orally.
How does Etelcalcetide work?
Etelcalcetide is a synthetic D-amino-acid peptide that binds the calcium-sensing receptor on parathyroid chief cells at a site distinct from the calcium binding site, forming a disulfide bond with a cysteine residue on the receptor. This allosteric activation increases receptor sensitivity to extracellular calcium, suppressing parathyroid hormone secretion and lowering serum calcium and phosphate.
Is Etelcalcetide FDA approved?
Yes. Etelcalcetide is approved by the FDA, and approved products are prescription medicines. Approval is always for specific indications studied in clinical trials, so an approved status does not mean the compound is approved for every use it is discussed for. Research-chemical material sold under the same name is not the approved product.
What peptides are similar to Etelcalcetide?
Compounds most often compared with Etelcalcetide include Angiotensin II, Cetrorelix, Corticorelin and Cosyntropin. They are grouped by shared mechanism or research area rather than by equivalence, and their regulatory status and evidence base differ.
References
- Effect of Etelcalcetide vs Cinacalcet on Serum Parathyroid Hormone in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis With Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: A Randomized Clinical Trial — JAMA, 2017External reference
- Effects of active vitamin D analogs and calcimimetic agents on PTH and bone mineral biomarkers in hemodialysis patients with SHPT: a network meta-analysis — Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 2024External reference
- Calcimimetics treatment strategy for serum calcium and phosphate management in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism undergoing dialysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies — Ther Apher Dial, 2024External reference
- Impact of Cinacalcet and Etelcalcetide on Bone Mineral and Cardiovascular Disease in Dialysis Patients — Curr Osteoporos Rep, 2023External reference
- Lessons from effect of etelcalcetide on left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with end-stage kidney disease — Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens, 2022External reference
Related research, comparisons & guides
Related peptides
Compiled by Peptide Library Editorial · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026 · Updated Nov 7, 2026 · Version 2
This Etelcalcetide profile is compiled from published literature (5 cited studies linked above), public regulatory records and chemical registries. It describes what research reports; it is not medical advice, and nothing here is a dosing recommendation for humans. Peptide Library does not sell peptides. Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled · Report an error
Track Etelcalcetide research, inventory and reconstitution in the free Peptide Library app. Get the app for iOS or Android →