ORal IrON Supplementation with Ferric Maltol in Treating Iron Deficiency and Anaemia in Patients with Heart Failure (ORION-HF)

This is an open-label, single arm, multicenter pilot-study to explore the safety, tolerability and efficacy of oral iron supplementation with ferric maltol in treating iron deficiency and anaemia in patients with heart failure.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men, women\*, inter/diverse aged ≥ 18 at day of inclusion
2. Signed written informed consent from patient prior to any study-related procedure and willingness to comply with treatment and follow-up procedures
3. Patients capable of understanding the investigational nature, potential risks and benefits of the clinical trial
4. Patients with chronic heart failure with an Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)\<50% (Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), Heart failure with a mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF)) or patients with chronic heart failure with an EF≥50% (HFpEF) and New York Heart Association functional class II-IV
5. 6 min walk distance \>50 m
6. Mild-to-moderate anaemia and iron -deficiency as defined by a haemoglobin concentration ≥8 g/dl and \<12 g/dl in females or ≥9 g/dl and \<13 g/dl in males, and serum ferritin \<100 µg/l, or 100-299 µg/l and transferrin saturation \<20% at screening
7. \*Women without childbearing potential defined as follows:

   * females before menarche (if applicable)
   * at least 6 weeks after surgical sterilization by bilateral tubal ligation or bilateral oophorectomy or
   * hysterectomy or uterine agenesis or
   * ≥ 50 years and in postmenopausal state \> 1 year or
   * \< 50 years and in postmenopausal state \> 1 year with serum Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) \> 40 IU/l and serum estrogen \< 30 ng/l or a negative estrogen test, both at screening or

     \*Women of childbearing potential:
   * who are practicing sexual abstinence (periodic abstinence and withdrawal are not acceptable) or
   * who have sexual relationships with female partners only and/or with sterile male partners or
   * who are sexually active with fertile male partner, have a negative pregnancy test during screening and agree to use reliable methods of contraception\*\* from the time of screening until end of the clinical trial.

     * The following methods of contraception are acceptable): e.g.

       * progestogen-only oral hormonal contraception, where inhibition of ovulation is not the primary mode of action
       * male or female condom with or without spermicide
       * cap, diaphragm or sponge with spermicide

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active haematological disorders other than anaemia and/or iron -deficiency
2. Other medical condition that according to the investigator's assessment is causing or contributing to anaemia
3. Active malignancy or currently receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy
4. Active infectious disease
5. Active bleeding
6. Severe renal insufficiency (glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \< 20ml/min or requiring dialysis)
7. Severe liver injury as indicated by serum aminotransferases \>3 x upper limit of normal or bilirubin levels \>50 µmol/l
8. Ongoing oral or intravenous iron supplementation
9. Concomitant erythropoietin medication
10. Erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA), i.v. iron or blood transfusion administered in last 3 months and oral iron (\>100 mg/day) in previous 4 weeks
11. Pregnancy or lactation period
12. Subject has received any investigational medication or any investigational devices within 30 days prior to the first dose of study medication or is actively participating in any investigational drug/ devices trial, or is scheduled to receive investigational drug/devices during the course of the study
13. Known or suspected hypersensitivity to any of the active substances or any excipients of the investigational medicinal product
14. Known haemochromatosis or other iron overload syndromes
15. Patients with severe, uncorrected valvular heart disease
16. Clinical evidence of Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), Transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or stroke within the last 30 days
17. Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), cardiac device implant/resynchronisation therapy or major surgery leading to significant blood loss within last 30 days
18. Planned CABG, PTCA, cardiac device implant/resynchronisation therapy or major surgery
19. Anaemia due to reasons other than iron deficiency (e.g., haemoglobinopathy). Subjects with Vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency who in the opinion of the Investigator are stable and asymptomatic will be permitted.