Paricalcitol, USP, the active ingredient in Zemplar Capsules, is a synthetically manufactured analog of calcitriol, the metabolically active form of vitamin D indicated for the prevention and treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in chronic kidney disease. Zemplar is available as soft gelatin capsules for oral administration containing 1 microgram, 2 micrograms or 4 micrograms of paricalcitol. Each capsule also contains medium chain triglycerides, alcohol, and butylated hydroxytoluene. The medium chain triglycerides are fractionated from coconut oil or palm kernel oil. The capsule shell is composed of gelatin, glycerin, titanium dioxide, iron oxide red (2 microgram capsules only), iron oxide yellow (2 microgram and 4 microgram capsules), iron oxide black (1 microgram capsules only), and water.

Paricalcitol is a white, crystalline powder with the empirical formula of C₂₇H₄₄O₃, which corresponds to a molecular weight of 416.64. Paricalcitol is chemically designated as 19-nor-1a,3b, 25-trihydroxy-9,10-secoergosta-5(Z), 7(E),22(E)-triene and has the following structural formula:

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