Roxadustat for the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease patients not on dialysis: a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (ALPS)

Background Roxadustat is an orally active hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) anemia. Methods This Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined patients with Stages 3–5 CKD, not on dialysis (NCT01887600). Patients were randomized (2:1) to oral roxadustat or placebo three times weekly for 52–104 weeks. This study examined two primary efficacy endpoints: European Union (European Medicines Agency)—hemoglobin (Hb) response, defined as Hb ≥11.0 g/dL that increased from baseline (BL) by ≥1.0 g/dL in patients with Hb >8.0 g/dL or ≥2.0 g/dL in patients with BL Hb ≤8.0 g/dL, without rescue therapy, during the first 24 weeks of treatment; US Food and Drug Administration—change in Hb from BL to the average Hb level during Weeks 28–52, regardless of rescue therapy. Secondary efficacy endpoints and safety were examined. Results A total of 594 patients were analyzed (roxadustat: 391; placebo: 203). Superiority of roxadustat versus placebo was demonstrated for both primary efficacy endpoints: Hb response [odds ratio = 34.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 20.48–58.93] and change in Hb from BL [roxadustat – placebo: +1.692 (95% CI 1.52–1.86); both P < 0.001]. Superiority of roxadustat was demonstrated for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol change from BL, and time to first use of rescue medication (both P < 0.001). The incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events were comparable between groups (roxadustat: 87.7%, placebo: 86.7%). Conclusions Roxadustat demonstrated superior efficacy versus placebo in terms of both Hb response rate and change in Hb from BL. The safety profiles of roxadustat and placebo were comparable.