The calcium receptor and calcimimetics

Parathyroid cells can sense small changes in plasma Ca2+ levels by virtue o f a cell surface Ca2+ receptor. Calcimimetics are newly synthesized compoun ds that act as agonists or positive allosteric modulators at the Ca2+ recep tor and can suppress parathyroid hormone secretion. The first-generation ca lcimimetic, NPS R-568, has undergone clinical trials in primary hyperparath yroidism and in hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic renal insufficienc y. The data accumulated so far demonstrate that calcimimetics have potentia l as therapeutic agents for hyperparathyroidism and related bone diseases s uch as osteitis fibrosa, Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 3:429-433. (C) 1999 Li ppincott Williams & Wilkins.