Darbepoetin alfa injection versus epoetin alfa injection for treating anemia of Chinese hemodialysis patients with chronic kidney failure: A randomized, open-label, parallel-group, non-inferiority Phase III trail

Short versus long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for anemia management in Egyptian hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often results in renal anemia, impacting the well-being of patients and causing various negative consequences. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) offer promising solutions for managing anemia in CKD. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness, safety profile, and cost-effectiveness of short-acting (Eprex®) and long-acting (Aranesp®) ESAs.

METHOD

This comparative prospective cohort cost-effectiveness study was carried out over 6 months among adult Egyptian hemodialysis patients of either gender. Participants were categorized into two groups based on the type of ESA administered: the Eprex group, receiving epoetin alfa, and the Aranesp group, receiving darbepoetin alfa. These two treatment groups' efficacy, safety, and cost were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS

Of 127 hemodialysis patients, 60 (47.2%) received Eprex, while 67 (52.8%) were treated with Aranesp. Target hemoglobin (Hb) was achieved by 50.6% of patients in the Eprex group versus 63.4% in the Aranesp group, with a significant difference (P < 0.001). Both treatment groups exhibited a similar safety profile, while Aranesp® was considered the cost-saving protocol.

CONCLUSION

In hemodialysis Egyptian patients, Aranesp with extended dosing intervals proved to be more effective in achieving target Hb with comparable adverse effect profiles, a substantial cost-saving strategy, and offered time-saving advantages for medical staff workload compared to Eprex.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The Clinicaltrial.gov registration ID is NCT05699109 (26/01/2023).

Corrigendum: Darbepoetin alfa injection versus epoetin alfa injection for treating anemia of Chinese hemodialysis patients with chronic kidney failure: A randomized, open-label, parallel-group, non-inferiority phase III trail

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1002/cdt3.13.].

Discovery of Novel and Potent Prolyl Hydroxylase Domain-Containing Protein (PHD) Inhibitors for The Treatment of Anemia

Stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) by inhibiting prolyl hydroxylase domain enzymes (PHDs) represents a breakthrough in treating anemia associated with chronic kidney disease. Here, we identified a novel scaffold for noncarboxylic PHD inhibitors by utilizing structure-based drug design (SBDD) and generative models. Iterative optimization of potency and solubility resulted in compound 15 which potently inhibits PHD thus stabilizing HIF-α in vitro. X-ray cocrystal structure confirmed the binding model was distinct from previously reported carboxylic acid PHD inhibitors by pushing away the R383 and Y303 residues resulting in a larger inner subpocket. Furthermore, compound 15 demonstrated a favorable in vitro/in vivo absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) profile, low drug-drug interaction risk, and clean early safety profiling. Functionally, oral administration of compound 15 at 10 mg/kg every day (QD) mitigated anemia in a 5/6 nephrectomy rat disease model.

A phase 3b, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study of roxadustat within a US dialysis organization: The DENALI study

INTRODUCTION

Roxadustat is an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor approved in several regions for the treatment of anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD). DENALI, a phase 3b study, evaluated the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of roxadustat in patients with anemia of CKD receiving in-center or home dialysis.

METHODS

Eligible patients received open-label roxadustat, dosed three times weekly for 24 weeks, with an optional extension of ≤1 year. Initial dosing depended on erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) dose at screening for patients receiving ESAs (≥6 weeks) and weight-based for those not (total <6 weeks). Primary efficacy endpoints were proportion of patients with mean hemoglobin (Hb) ≥10.0 g/dL averaged over Weeks 16-24, and mean Hb change from baseline to the average during Weeks 16-24. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and treatment-emergent serious adverse events (TESAEs) were assessed.

FINDINGS

Of 281 patients screened, 203 were treated and 201 included in the full analysis set. Overall, 166 patients completed the 24-week treatment period and 126 continued into the extension period. Mean baseline Hb was 10.4 g/dL and 82.6% received in-center hemodialysis. Overall, 84.6% of patients achieved a mean Hb ≥ 10.0 g/dL averaged Weeks 16-24. Mean (standard deviation) Hb change from baseline averaged Weeks 16-24 was 0.5 (1.0) g/dL. Prespecified subgroup analyses were consistent with primary analyses. Dosing adherence was 94%. Overall, 3.0% of patients received a red blood cell transfusion at up to Week 24. TEAEs and TESAEs were reported by 71.4% and 25.6% of patients, respectively. The most frequently reported TESAEs were COVID-19 (n = 5; 2.5%), and acute myocardial infarction, pneumonia, and sepsis (each n = 4; 2.0%).

DISCUSSION

Roxadustat effectively achieved and/or maintained mean Hb levels ≥10.0 g/dL in patients receiving dialysis. The feasibility of incorporating oral roxadustat into dialysis organizations was successfully demonstrated with high dosing adherence. No new safety signals were identified.

Advancing Anemia Management in Chronic Kidney Disease: Assessing the Superiority of Darbepoetin Alfa Over Erythropoietin Alpha

Anemia is a prevalent and debilitating complication in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It presents multifaceted challenges that impact patients' quality of life and overall well-being. The advent of darbepoetin alfa (DPO) as a therapeutic alternative to recombinant human erythropoietin alpha (EPO) has revolutionized the management of CKD-associated anemia. This review article presents a comprehensive comparative analysis highlighting the advantages of DPO over EPO in the effective management of anemia, in both predialysis and dialysis-dependent (DD) CKD patients. DPO's distinct pharmacokinetic advantages play a pivotal role in its efficacy and safety. With a significantly longer half-life and several-fold increased biological activity compared to EPO, DPO enables extended dosing intervals. Through an in-depth examination of diverse clinical trials, it becomes evident that DPO consistently demonstrates remarkable efficacy and safety in improving and maintaining hemoglobin (Hb) levels. Furthermore, its simplified dosage regimen, coupled with the convenience of less frequent administration, not only improves patient adherence but also translates to reduced healthcare costs and resource utilization. In conclusion, this review provides compelling evidence of the advantages of DPO over conventional recombinant human EPO for managing anemia in CKD patients, both in the predialysis and dialysis-dependent CKD patients. DPO's pharmacokinetic advantages, patient-centered advantages, enhanced compliance, and cost-effectiveness converge to establish DPO as a transformative therapeutic option. In both predialysis and dialysis settings, DPO's superior efficacy and patient-centric attributes collectively redefine the landscape of anemia management in CKD.