This study utilized data from the JADER database to conduct a comprehensive, large-scale real-world analysis of cinacalcet, thereby enhancing the evidence base for its clinical use beyond clinical trials, case reports, and other study types. The AEs were predominantly reported among males (52.94%), aligning with findings that indicate males as a high-risk group for developing secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) [15]. Reports were mainly from individuals aged over 45 years, which is consistent with the age distribution observed in the FAERS database [12]. The number of annual reports showed a trend of initially increasing and then decreasing, suggesting that healthcare professionals have been vigilant about the safe use of cinacalcet and have implemented effective measures to mitigate risks.
At the SOC level, our analysis identified six noteworthy SOCs qualified based on criteria, with notable signals in surgical and medical procedures, product issues, injury, poisoning and procedural complications exhibiting being more pronounced signals. It is noteworthy that our comprehensive evaluation indicates that these AEs are predominantly attributable to procedural related injuries and complications, bone and joint injuries, device issues and therapeutic procedures. These findings imply that such AEs associated with cinacalcet are largely preventable, rather than an inherent property of the drug. This underscores the necessity for differentiating between pharmacological side effects and complications resulting from procedural errors.
The signal for cardiac disorders was notably strong. CaSRs are widely distributed in β-cells, enteroendocrine cells, adipocytes, and myocytes, providing a basis for calcium ions' involvement in regulating cardiac function and metabolism [16]. Calcimimetics can induce cardiac-related AEs by mimicking calcium ions' actions on CaSRs, warranting clinical attention. The prescribing information indicates that cardiotoxicity associated with cinacalcet is primarily manifested by myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia, atrial fibrillation, palpitations, tachycardia, and cardiac failure. The use of calcimimetics can affect blood calcium levels, potentially impacting the cardiac system. One study showed that cinacalcet-induced transient hypocalcemia was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality [17]. Another study suggested that cinacalcet dosing regimens exceeding eight weeks may heighten the risk of cardiac-related AEs, which should be considered in clinical practice [13]. Therefore, it is recommended that clinicians closely monitor patients' blood calcium levels to adjust medication regimens as needed and enhance surveillance for cardiac AE signals.
Signals from the gastrointestinal system were also pronounced. A meta-analysis indicated that gastrointestinal AEs are among the most frequent AEs linked to cinacalcet treatment, significantly contributing to poor medication compliance and discontinuation among patients with SHPT [18]. In this study, positive signals for gastrointestinal hemorrhage, gastritis, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain were detected, consistent with the drug's specifications. Additionally, this study identified unexpected significant AEs such as intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, ascites, and gastrointestinal necrosis. Studies have shown that deoxynivalenol (vomitoxin) can cause food refusal and vomiting, with its secretion being associated with CaSR activation, which might be a potential mechanism for gastrointestinal toxicity induced by calcimimetics [19]. Ceglia et al. [20] found that cinacalcet might increase basal gastric acid production in healthy adults, leading to gastric ulcers, gastritis, and other disorders, suggesting a potential risk of inducing gastrointestinal AEs such as gastric ulcers and bleeding.
Metabolic and nutritional disorders also showed strong signals, with hypocalcaemia being the most frequent. A machine learning-based systematic evaluation indicated that cinacalcet is associated with an increased risk of hypocalcemia (RR = 4.05, 95% CI = 2.33 to 7.04, p = 0.001) [21]. Additionally, new positive signals for hypercalcaemia and hyperphosphataemia caused by cinacalcet were detected in this study. These signals may relate to disease progression and indirectly suggest that the patient's condition is not being effectively controlled, potentially providing evidence to support drug efficacy evaluation. It is recommended that clinicians regularly monitor serum calcium, phosphorus, and PTH levels when administering calcimimetics to timely assess treatment efficacy and prevent serious AEs.
Notably, this study identified several significant and unexpected signals, with parathyroid haemorrhage being the most prominent. Nagasawa et al. [22] reported a case of parathyroid hemorrhage in a rare SHPT patient on cinacalcet. The authors suggested a potential mechanism where partial loss of thyroid hyperplastic cells responsive to cinacalcet might reduce intracapsular pressure, leading to an oversupply of blood, potentially resulting in vessel rupture and haemorrhage. We identified three cases of electrocardiogram QT prolongation; however, literature reviews revealed more reports of cinacalcet causing QT prolongation [23–25]. Interestingly, cinacalcet has been shown to reverse short QT intervals in familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia type 1 [26]. Further clinical studies are necessary to fully understand cinacalcet's effect on the QT interval. Additionally, Bernardor et al. [27] reported a case of a child wiath SHPT treated with cinacalcet who developed nephrolithiasis secondary to hypercalciuria. While other signals, such as cataract, bile duct stone, gangrene, diverticulitis, osteonecrosis, malignant neoplasm, facial paralysis, and renal haemorrhage, have not been reported in clinical studies or case reports, caution should be exercised when interpreting these findings due to the limited number of cases included. It is imperative for clinicians to recognize and manage potential AEs early to prevent serious outcomes.
The onset time analysis in our study indicated that AEs could occur at any time during the one-year treatment period, with a notable proportion (21.89%) occurring within the first month. Long-term AEs were also a concern, with 40.56% of patients reporting AEs more than one year after initiating cinacalcet treatment. The Weibull Shape Parameter (WSP) was 0.66, indicating an early failure type, meaning the incidence of AEs declines over time. This analysis provides insight into cinacalcet's risk profile over time, which can inform the development of monitoring strategies for patients on this medication. As shown in Fig. 4, while cinacalcet is generally regarded as having a favorable safety profile, there have been instances of serious AEs. Notably, deaths constituted 7.53% of the reported cases. The diversity within this category may provide insights into various health challenges facing the population. However, it is crucial to consider the high proportion of missing data when interpreting these results, as it could significantly impact the understanding of the drug's safety profile.
This study has several limitations. First, the JADER database is a self-reporting system prone to omissions, duplicate reporting, and incomplete case information, which may introduce bias. Second, the database does not record the total number of medicine users, preventing calculations of AE incidence rates. Third, the data analysis did not account for unmeasured confounders such as drug-drug interactions, comorbidities, and concurrent medications. Furthermore, the ROR method reflects statistical correlations rather than cause-and-effect relationships, which require validation through large-scale clinical studies. Despite these limitations, this study provides critical insights into cinacalcet's safety profile, which can guide clinical practice and inform risk management strategies.