Ferric Citrate, an iron-based phosphate binder, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to control serum phosphorus levels in patients with CKD on dialysis in September 2014.
"The results presented at ASN provide further confirmation of Ferric Citrate's potential in the dialysis setting," said Julia Lewis, MD, lead investigator, nephrologist and Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "Patients on dialysis take several medications to manage metabolic factors like elevated phosphate levels and iron deficiency that are common in end-stage renal disease. Having an iron-based phosphate binder with unique pharmacodynamic properties may be of clinical value to doctors treating patients in the dialysis setting."
About the Ferric Citrate OLE Study Presented at ASN
The Ferric Citrate OLE study consisted of 168 patients who completed the pivotal 52-week, randomized, active control Phase 3 study. Of those enrolled, 166 patients were dosed with Ferric Citrate and 125 patients completed the OLE study lasting an additional 48 weeks. Over the 48-week OLE study period, patients received an average of 7.9 tablets a day. Ferric Citrate was administered as 1 gram tablets each containing 210 mg of ferric iron. The study was conducted in 35 U.S. sites. Safety in the study was assessed by recording and monitoring adverse events (AE), serious adverse events (SAE) and sequential laboratory data.
The OLE study demonstrated the AE profile of Ferric Citrate is similar to that seen in the long-term Phase 3 52-week active-control period, results of which were published in the July issue of the Journal of American Society of Nephrology. AEs occurred in 142 patients treated with Ferric Citrate and were primarily gastrointestinal-related, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and constipation. Serious adverse events occurred in 75 patients, though none were related to Ferric Citrate. In addition, there were no clinically or statistically significant differences in liver enzymes or aluminum levels observed.
The study also evaluated changes in laboratory serum phosphorus, transferrin saturation (TSAT), ferritin, hemoglobin, hematocrit and additional parameters, as well as IV iron and ESA use. The laboratory measurements over time in this study for these parameters is contained in the table below:
(n=166) Baseline Week 12 Week 24 Week 36 Week 48 Serum Phosphorus (mg/dL) 5.7 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.2 Transferrin Saturation (TSAT) (%) 32.4 37.7 36.8 39.5 40.3 Serum Ferritin (ng/mL) 710 785 848 866 821 Hemoglobin (g/dL) 11.4 11.3 11.1 11.1 11.3 IV Iron Dose (mg/day)* NA 1.48 0.94 1.18 0.72 ESA Dose (units/day)* NA 893 837 759 699 * Mean use for each 12-week period.
"We are pleased with the positive results from the OLE trial which reinforce the clinical utility of Ferric Citrate as demonstrated in the pivotal trial and reaffirms our commitment to research that will be of value to healthcare professionals treating dialysis patients living with CKD," said Ron Bentsur, Chief Executive Officer of Keryx. "We look forward to working with the nephrology community and making this therapy available to patients in the coming weeks."
Additional Ferric Citrate Presentation at Kidney Week
An abstract regarding the pharmacoeconomic impact of Ferric Citrate titled "Phosphorus Binding with Ferric Citrate is Associated with Reduced Hospitalizations and Costs for Cardiac Gastrointestinal and Infection-Related Causes" was presented yesterday, and showed patients treated with Ferric Citrate had lower hospitalization rates and costs related to cardiac, gastrointestinal, and infection-related events than patients on sevelamer carbonate and/or calcium acetate. This abstract can be found online at http://www.asn-online.org.
About End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and Hyperphosphatemia
In the United States there are currently more than 400,000 ESRD patients that require dialysis, with the number projected to rise in the future.
Managing ESRD is complex as many metabolic factors, such as iron and phosphorus, are out of balance. Phosphate retention and the resulting hyperphosphatemia in dialysis patients are typically associated with increased risk for heart and bone disease, and death. The majority of ESRD patients require chronic treatment with phosphate-binding agents to lower and maintain serum phosphorus at acceptable levels. In addition, iron can be severely depleted in dialysis patients and they therefore are often treated with intravenous iron and other medications.
About Ferric Citrate
Ferric Citrate was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on September 5, 2014 and is indicated in the U.S. for the control of serum phosphorus levels in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis. Keryx plans to make Ferric Citrate available to U.S. dialysis patients in December.
The U.S. approval of Ferric Citrate was based on data from its Phase 3 registration program. In the Phase 3 clinical trials, Ferric Citrate effectively reduced serum phosphorus levels to within the KDOQI guidelines range of 3.5 mg/dL to 5.5 mg/dL. In addition to the effects on serum phosphorus levels, Ferric Citrate's pharmacodynamic properties resulted in increased ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT); whereas these parameters remained relatively constant in patients treated with active control (Renvela® and/or Phoslo®). The most common adverse events for Ferric Citrate treated patients were gastrointestinal-related, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and constipation.
In January 2014, Ferric Citrate was approved for the treatment of patients with all stages of CKD in Japan, where it is being marketed as Riona® by Keryx's Japanese partner, Japan Tobacco Inc. and Torii Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
Keryx has filed a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), seeking the approval of Ferric Citrate as a treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with CKD, including dialysis and non-dialysis dependent patients, and that application is currently under review.
Ferric Citrate is also being developed in the U.S. as a treatment for iron deficiency anemia in patients with Stage 3 to 5 non-dialysis dependent CKD.
For Full Prescribing Information for Ferric Citrate, please visit http://www.keryx.com/wp-content/uploads/Keryx_FerricCitrate_PI.pdf.
Important Safety Information about Ferric Citrate
Contraindication: Patients with an accumulation of iron in their body, e.g. hemochromatosis, should not take Ferric Citrate. Monitoring Iron Parameters: Iron absorption from Ferric Citrate may lead to increased iron in storage sites. Iron parameters should be monitored prior to and while on Ferric Citrate. Patients receiving IV iron may require a reduction in dose or discontinuation of IV iron therapy. Accidental Overdose of Iron: Keep Ferric Citrate away from children as it contains iron. Accidental overdose of iron containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6 years of age. Call a poison control center or your physician in case of an accidental overdose in a child. Patients with Gastrointestinal Bleeding or Inflammation: Safety has not been established for these patients. Adverse Events: The most common adverse events with Ferric Citrate were diarrhea (21%), nausea (11%), constipation (8%), vomiting (7%) and cough (6%). Gastrointestinal adverse reactions were the most common reason for discontinuing Ferric Citrate (14%). Ferric Citrate contains iron and may cause dark stools, which is considered normal with oral medications containing iron. Drug Interactions: Doxycycline should be taken at least 1 hour before Ferric Citrate.
INFORMATION:
About Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, headquartered in New York, is focused on bringing innovative therapies to market for patients with renal disease. The Company's lead product, Ferric Citrate, is approved in the United States for the control of serum phosphorus levels in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis. Keryx plans to commercially launch Ferric Citrate in the U.S. in December 2014. In January 2014, ferric citrate was approved for the treatment of patients with all stages of CKD in Japan, where it is being marketed as Riona® by Keryx's Japanese partner, Japan Tobacco Inc. and Torii Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
Cautionary Statement
Some of the statements included in this press release, particularly those regarding the commercialization and subsequent clinical development of Ferric Citrate, may be forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Among the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially are the following: whether Ferric Citrate will be successfully launched and marketed in the U.S.; whether the FDA will approve a brand name for Ferric Citrate prior to the projected launch date; whether Riona® will be successfully marketed by our Japanese partner, Japan Tobacco, Inc. and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd; the risk that the EMA may not concur with our interpretation of our Phase 3 study results, supportive data, conduct of the studies, or any other part of our MAA submission and could ultimately deny approval of the MAA; the risk that we may not be successful in the development of ferric citrate for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients; and other risk factors identified from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. This press release and prior releases are available at http://www.keryx.com. The information found on our website is not incorporated by reference into this press release and is included for reference purposes only.
KERYX CONTACT:
Amy Sullivan, Vice President - Corporate Development and Public Affairs
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tel: 617.466.3447
E-mail: amy.sullivan@keryx.com
