• Nan Chen, Chuanming Hao, Xiaomei Peng, Hongli Lin, Aiping Yin, Li Hao, Ye Tao, Xinling Liang, Zhengrong Liu, Changying Xing, Jianghua Chen, Laimin Luo, Li Zuo, Yunhua Liao, Bi-Cheng Liu, Robert Leong, Chunrong Wang, Cameron Liu, Thomas Neff, Lynda Szczech, and Kin-Hung P Yu.
• From the Department of Nephrology, Institute of Nephrology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (N.C.), and the Division of Nephrology, Huashan Hospital Fudan University (C.H.), Shanghai, the Department of Nephrology, People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (X.P.), and the Department of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University (Y.L.), Nanning, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian (H.L.), the Department of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an (A.Y.), the Department of Nephrology, Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei (L.H.), West China Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu (Y.T.), the Division of Nephrology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences (X.L.), and the Renal Division, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research (Z.L.), Guangzhou, the Department of Nephrology, First Affiliated Hospital (Jiangsu Province Hospital), Nanjing Medical University (C.X.), and the Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine (B.-C.L.), Nanjing, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou (J.C.), First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang (L.L.), and the Department of Nephrology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing (L.Z.) - all in China; and FibroGen, San Francisco (R.L., C.W., C.L., T.N., L.S., K.-H.P.Y.).
• N. Engl. J. Med. 2019 Sep 12; 381 (11): 1001-1010.

BackgroundRoxadustat (FG-4592) is an oral inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase that stimulates erythropoiesis and regulates iron metabolism. In phase 2 studies involving patients with chronic kidney disease, roxadustat increased levels of endogenous erythropoietin to within or near the physiologic range, along with increasing hemoglobin levels and improving iron homeostasis. Additional data are needed regarding the efficacy and safety of roxadustat for the treatment of anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease who are not undergoing dialysis.MethodsIn this phase 3 trial conducted at 29 sites in China, we randomly assigned 154 patients with chronic kidney disease in a 2:1 ratio to receive roxadustat or placebo three times a week for 8 weeks in a double-blind manner. All the patients had a hemoglobin level of 7.0 to 10.0 g per deciliter at baseline. The randomized phase of the trial was followed by an 18-week open-label period in which all the patients received roxadustat; parenteral iron was withheld. The primary end point was the mean change from baseline in the hemoglobin level, averaged over weeks 7 through 9.ResultsDuring the primary-analysis period, the mean (±SD) change from baseline in the hemoglobin level was an increase of 1.9±1.2 g per deciliter in the roxadustat group and a decrease of 0.4±0.8 g per deciliter in the placebo group (P<0.001). The mean reduction from baseline in the hepcidin level (associated with greater iron availability) was 56.14±63.40 ng per milliliter in the roxadustat group and 15.10±48.06 ng per milliliter in the placebo group. The reduction from baseline in the total cholesterol level was 40.6 mg per deciliter in the roxadustat group and 7.7 mg per deciliter in the placebo group. Hyperkalemia and metabolic acidosis occurred more frequently in the roxadustat group than in the placebo group. The efficacy of roxadustat in hemoglobin correction and maintenance was maintained during the 18-week open-label period.ConclusionsIn Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease who were not undergoing dialysis, those in the roxadustat group had a higher mean hemoglobin level than those in the placebo group after 8 weeks. During the 18-week open-label phase of the trial, roxadustat was associated with continued efficacy. (Funded by FibroGen and FibroGen [China] Medical Technology Development; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02652819.).Copyright © 2019 Massachusetts Medical Society.

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