Vadadustat 300mg tablets

Background: Vadadustat is a novel drug for treating anemia patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but its effect and safety remain uncertain. This study aimed to summarize the evidence for vadadustat in the treatment of CKD patients with anemia.Methods: PubMed, Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Wanfang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and an international trial register were searched from their inception to June 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy and safety of vadadustat to those of placebo or erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in treating anemia in CKD patients. Data were pooled in a meta-analysis, with results expressed as the mean difference for continuous outcomes and relative risk for categorical outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). The certainty of evidence was rated according to Cochrane methods and the GRADE approach.Results: Ten RCTs comparing vadadustat with placebo (4 RCTs) or darbepoetin alfa (6 RCTs) were included (n = 8,438 participants). Compared with placebo, vadadustat increased the hemoglobin (Hb) response rate (risk ratio 5.27; 95% CI: 2.69 to 10.31; p < 0.001; high certainty of evidence) and Hb level from baseline (∆Hb) (mean difference (MD) 1.28; 95% CI: 0.83 to 1.73; p < 0.001; low certainty of evidence). Compared with placebo or darbepoetin alfa, vadadustat decreased hepcidin (MD -36.62; 95% CI: −54.95 to −18.30; p < 0.001) and ferritin (MD −56.24; 95% CI: −77.37 to −35.11; p < 0.001) levels and increased iron-binding capacity (MD 24.38; 95% CI: 13.69 to 35.07; p < 0.001), with a low to moderate certainty of evidence. Moderate to high certainty evidence suggested that compared with placebo or darbepoetin alfa, vadadustat significantly increased the risk of nausea and diarrhea but did not significantly increase the risk of serious adverse events, especially all-cause mortality, cardiac events and nonfatal stroke.Conclusion: Vadadustat may safely improve Hb levels and promote iron utilization in CKD patients with anemia without increasing the incidence of serious adverse events.

Abstract licence: CC BY 4.0

Rationale & objectiveIn the PRO2TECT trials, vadadustat was found to be noninferior to darbepoetin alfa in hematologic efficacy but not for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; all-cause death or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke) in patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD). We investigated the regional differences in MACE in the PRO2TECT trials.Study designPhase 3, global, open-label, randomized, active-controlled clinical trial.Setting & participantsA total of 1,725 erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA)-treated patients with anemia and NDD-CKD.Intervention1:1 randomization to receive vadadustat or darbepoetin alfa.OutcomesThe primary safety end point was the time to first MACE.ResultsAt baseline, patients in Europe (n=444) were primarily treated with darbepoetin alfa, showed higher proportions on low ESA doses (P = 0.07). In Europe, ESA rescue was associated with a higher risk of MACE in both groups.LimitationsSeveral analyses are exploratory.ConclusionsIn this trial, there was a low risk of MACE in the darbepoetin alfa group in Europe. Patients in Europe were generally on low doses of ESA, with hemoglobin already within target range. The low risk of MACE may have been related to a limited need to switch and titrate darbepoetin alfa compared with the non-US/non-Europe group.FundingAkebia Therapeutics, Inc.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02680574.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Abstract Background Vadadustat is an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor for treatment of anemia in dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) with a starting dose of 300 mg once daily (dose adjustments up to 600 mg). A recent phase 1b study evaluated the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of higher vadadustat doses (500–900 mg) in healthy volunteers. Here we report the pharmacokinetic (PK), pharmacodynamic (PD), and safety characterization of higher doses of vadadustat in patients with CKD receiving dialysis. Methods This phase 1b, randomized, open-label study evaluated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of vadadustat (600, 750, or 900 mg) in patients with CKD-related anemia receiving hemodialysis over a 10-day treatment period. Forty-six eligible patients were randomized to vadadustat 600, 750, or 900 mg daily or an intravenous erythropoiesis-stimulating agent. For vadadustat groups, blood samples for PK and PD analyses were collected on Day 1 and Day 8. PK analyses included area under the plasma concentration time curve (AUC) from dosing to last quantifiable concentration and to infinity, and to maximum plasma concentration (C max ). PD analyses measured serum erythropoietin (EPO), hemoglobin, and red blood cells (RBCs). Safety assessments included adverse events in the safety population (patients who received ≥ 1 dose of study drug). Patients underwent a 30-day safety follow-up period after the last dose of study drug. Results In the vadadustat groups, a dose-dependent increase in plasma exposure of vadadustat (C max and AUC) with modest accumulation was observed on Day 1 and Day 8. Vadadustat increased plasma EPO concentrations, with a variable EPO response observed in each group. Relative to baseline, mean hemoglobin and RBC levels remained unchanged, with no significant changes observed in any treatment group. Vadadustat was welltolerated. Conclusions The current study characterized the PK and PD response (EPO and reticulocytes) and safety profile of vadadustat at doses of 600, 750, and 900 mg in patients with CKD receiving dialysis. Overall, vadadustat was well tolerated. These findings will contribute to the development of higher-dose regimens for further investigation in phase 3 studies. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT03992066; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03992066 ; Retrospectively registered on June 18, 2019. Accessed January 13, 2025.

Abstract licence: CC BY 4.0