MO001ROXADUSTAT FOR THE TREATMENT OF ANAEMIA IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS NOT ON DIALYSIS: A PHASE 3, RANDOMISED, OPEN-LABEL, ACTIVE-CONTROLLED STUDY
Authors: Barratt Jonathan , Andrić Branislav , Tataradze Avtandil , Schömig Michael , Reusch Michael , Valluri Udaya , Mariat Christophe 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Background and Aims
Roxadustat is an orally administered hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor for the treatment of anaemia in patients (pts) with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Efficacy and safety of roxadustat compared with darbepoetin alfa (DA) for the treatment of anaemia in CKD pts not on dialysis (NDD) was assessed in a randomised, open-label, active-controlled phase 3 study. Results from a protocol-specified interim analysis, performed after pts had either completed ≥36 weeks of treatment or had withdrawn from the study, are presented here.

Method
This study (CL-0610) enrolled pts with NDD CKD stages 3-5 and anaemia (haemoglobin [Hb] ≤10.5 g/dL) and randomised them to receive roxadustat or DA. Following prescribed initial doses (weight-based), dose adjustments were permitted, with the goal of correcting and maintaining Hb. The primary endpoint was Hb response, defined as Hb ≥11.0 g/dL and an Hb increase from baseline (BL) of ≥1.0 g/dL in pts with BL Hb &gt;8.0 g/dL, or an increase of ≥2.0 g/dL in pts with BL Hb ≤8.0 g/dL, during the first 24 weeks of treatment without rescue therapy. Key secondary endpoints included change in serum lipids, time to first IV iron use, change in mean arterial pressure (MAP), and occurrence of hypertension. Noninferiority of roxadustat to DA was declared if the lower bound of the two-sided 95% confidence interval (CI; roxadustat – DA) for change in Hb was &gt;-0.15. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed across the study and are presented as events/100 patient exposure years (PEY) unless otherwise specified. The full analysis set (FAS) included pts who received ≥1 dose of study drug and had ≥1 post-dose Hb assessment. The per protocol set (PPS) included FAS pts who did not meet exclusion criteria. The safety analysis set (SAF) included pts who received ≥1 dose of study drug.

Results
As of 15 June 2018, 616 pts were randomised to receive roxadustat (n=323) or DA (n=293); of these 616 pts, 395 pts (roxadustat, n=194; DA, n=201) were still receiving treatment and 89 pts had completed ≥2 years of treatment (roxadustat, n=55; DA, n=34). In the PPS, 89.5% (n=256) of roxadustat pts responded in the first 24 weeks compared with 78.0% (n=213) of DA pts, for a difference of 11.51% (95% CI: 5.66%, 17.36%), thereby establishing roxadustat’s noninferiority to DA. Noninferiority of roxadustat to DA was also demonstrated for MAP and time to occurrence of hypertension. In the FAS, superiority of roxadustat to DA was demonstrated for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and time to first IV iron use. (Table) In the SAF, overall incidence of AEs was comparable between roxadustat and DA (85.8% and 84.6%, respectively).

Conclusion
This analysis demonstrates that roxadustat was noninferior to DA in correction of Hb levels during the first 24 weeks of treatment in pts with NDD CKD stages 3-5 and anaemia. Safety profiles were comparable between groups. Final analysis of this study’s data will be presented at the congress.