Efficacy and safety of Vadadustat in the treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease: insights from clinical trials

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease is a rising worldwide health problem. Anemia, a frequent complication of CKD, reduces quality of life and increases mortality. Current treatments, erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs), have limitations, including cardiovascular risks and requiring injections. Vadadustat, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitor, is a potential alternative for CKD-related anemia. This review analyzes clinical trials to assess Vadadustat's efficacy and safety in managing CKD-related anemia. Three phases of trials (I-III) were evaluated. These trials included adult patients with varying degrees of CKD severity, both dialysis-dependent and non-dialysis-dependent. Vadadustat effectively increased and maintained hemoglobin levels in patients with CKD-related anemia. It also offered an improved route of administration with an oral tablet compared to injectable ESAs. Vadadustat also demonstrated a good safety profile with minimal side effects. However, limitations exist. The long-term effects of Vadadustat are yet to be fully determined, and more studies are needed to explore its use in a wider range of patients.