Zerenex(TM) (Ferric Citrate) Long-Term Phase 3 Study Results Published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology - Seite 2

The Company's New Drug Application (NDA) for Zerenex is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Ron Bentsur, Chief Executive Officer of Keryx, commented, "We are very pleased with the publication of the Phase 3 PERFECTED study results in a premier peer-reviewed nephrology journal and are encouraged by Zerenex's potential differentiated product profile." Mr. Bentsur added, "We thank the investigators and patients who participated in this study and look forward to potentially bringing Zerenex to market in the U.S."  

Phosphorus Control is Necessary for Most ESRD Patients on Dialysis

In the United States, according to data from the U.S. Renal Data System, there are currently approximately 600,000 ESRD patients, with the number of ESRD patients projected to rise in the future. The majority of ESRD patients in the United States, more than 400,000, require dialysis. Phosphate retention and the resulting hyperphosphatemia in patients with ESRD on dialysis are associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism, renal osteodystrophy, soft tissue mineralization and an increase in adverse cardiovascular events.  Hyperphosphatemia is ubiquitous in ESRD, with the majority of the patients requiring chronic treatment with phosphate-binding agents to lower and maintain serum phosphorus at acceptable levels.

Zerenex Administration Over 52 Weeks Increased Iron Stores

In addition, approximately seventy percent of dialysis patients are truly or functionally iron depleted, suffer from anemia and require treatment with IV iron and/or ESA injections. The newly published clinical trial results show that, in addition to its efficacy as a phosphate binder, Zerenex also significantly raises iron stores as measured by serum ferritin and TSAT.

The results showed Zerenex demonstrated a statistically significant treatment difference versus the active control group in mean change in serum ferritin (+306 ng/mL vs. +19 ng/mL) and TSAT (+8% vs -1.2%) from baseline (day 0) to week 52. In the PERFECTED study, subjects randomized to receive Zerenex required significantly lower dosages of IV iron and ESA; and hemoglobin levels were higher in Zerenex treated patients than in those receiving active control.  

The investigators cited an analysis of the trial results that indicated that the projected reduction in the need for IV iron and ESA use would result in significant pharmaco-economic benefits. In addition, the investigators wrote, "one would postulate that decreased IV iron and ESA usage could result in decreased nursing time to administer IV medications which could be redirected to other aspects of patient care and decreased risk of infections due to fewer IV injections." In the PERFECTED study, fewer serious adverse events (SAEs) due to infection were seen in the subjects randomized to Zerenex compared to active control.