Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, and Safety of Vadadustat in Hemodialysis Subjects With Anemia Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease

NCT03992066 | Completed Phase 1 FDA Drug

• 1 other identifier: AKB-6548-CI-0034
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 46
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 10

Brief Summary

This study will be conducted to assess the pharmacokinetics of vadadustat 600, 750, and 900 milligrams daily, and intravenous erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (darbepoetin alfa or epoetin alfa), in hemodialysis participants with anemia associated with chronic kidney disease.

Conditions

Anemia Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease

Keywords

Anemia; Chronic kidney disease; Vadadustat; Hemodialysis; Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (12)

• Mean area under concentration-time curve from time 0 to the last quantifiable concentration (AUClast)

  Vadadustat: Day 1: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose and prior to dosing. Day 8: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 10 or End of Treatment: predose. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Day 1: predose; 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose

  Vadadustat: Days 1, 2, 8, and 10 (or End of Treatment). Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Days 1 and 2

• Area under concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUCinf)

  Vadadustat: Day 1: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose and prior to dosing. Day 8: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 10 or End of Treatment: predose. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Day 1: predose; 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose

  Vadadustat: Days 1, 2, 8, and 10 (or End of Treatment). Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Days 1 and 2

• Maximum observed concentration (Cmax)

  Vadadustat: Day 1: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose and prior to dosing. Day 8: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 10 or End of Treatment: predose. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Day 1: predose; 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose

  Vadadustat: Days 1, 2, 8, and 10 (or End of Treatment). Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Days 1 and 2

• Time to maximum observed concentration (Tmax)

  Vadadustat: Day 1: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose and prior to dosing. Day 8: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 10 or End of Treatment: predose. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Day 1: predose; 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose

  Vadadustat: Days 1, 2, 8, and 10 (or End of Treatment). Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Days 1 and 2

• Terminal half-life (t½)

  Vadadustat: Day 1: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose and prior to dosing. Day 8: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 10 or End of Treatment: predose. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Day 1: predose; 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose

  Vadadustat: Days 1, 2, 8, and 10 (or End of Treatment). Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Days 1 and 2

• Apparent clearance (CL/F) or clearance (CL)

  Vadadustat: Day 1: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose and prior to dosing. Day 8: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 10 or End of Treatment: predose. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Day 1: predose; 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose

  Vadadustat: Days 1, 2, 8, and 10 (or End of Treatment). Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Days 1 and 2

• Apparent volume of distribution (Vd/F) or volume of distribution (Vd)

  Vadadustat: Day 1: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose and prior to dosing. Day 8: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 10 or End of Treatment: predose. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Day 1: predose; 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose

  Vadadustat: Days 1, 2, 8, and 10 (or End of Treatment). Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent: Days 1 and 2

• Tmax for vadadustat metabolite(s)

  Day 1: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose and prior to dosing. Day 8: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 10 or End of Treatment: predose

• AUClast for vadadustat metabolite(s)

  Day 1: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose and prior to dosing. Day 8: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 10 or End of Treatment: predose

• AUCinf for vadadustat metabolite(s)

  Day 1: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose and prior to dosing. Day 8: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 10 or End of Treatment: predose

• Cmax for vadadustat metabolite(s)

  Day 1: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose and prior to dosing. Day 8: predose; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 10 or End of Treatment: predose

• Serum erythropoietin concentration for the erythropoiesis-stimulating agent treatment group

  Day 1: predose; 0.25, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 11 hours post dose. Day 2: 24 hours (-2 hours) post Day 1 dose

Secondary Outcomes (12)

• Hepcidin concentration

  predose on Days 1, 6, and 10

• Serum erythropoietin concentration

  predose on Days 1, 6, and 10; post dose on Days 1 and 8

• Iron concentration

  predose on Days 1, 6, and 10

• Ferritin concentration

  predose on Days 1, 6, and 10

• Total iron-binding capcity

  predose on Days 1, 6, and 10

Study Arms (4)

Vadadustat 600 mg

EXPERIMENTAL

Dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (DD-CKD) participants converting from erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) treatment will be administered fixed-dose treatment for 10 days with vadadustat 600 milligrams (mg) daily.

Drug: Vadadustat

Vadadustat 750 mg

EXPERIMENTAL

DD-CKD participants converting from ESA treatment will be administered fixed-dose treatment for 10 days with vadadustat 750 mg daily.

Drug: Vadadustat

Vadadustat 900 mg

EXPERIMENTAL

DD-CKD participants converting from ESA treatment will be administered fixed-dose treatment for 10 days with vadadustat 900 mg daily.

Drug: Vadadustat

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent

OTHER

Participants will continue to receive their existing treatment with intravenous erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA; darbepoetin alfa or epoetin alfa) for 10 days.

Drug: Darbepoetin alfa; Drug: Epoetin alfa

Interventions

Vadadustat DRUG

oral 150 mg tablet

Also known as: AKB-6548

Vadadustat 600 mg; Vadadustat 750 mg; Vadadustat 900 mg

Darbepoetin alfa DRUG

solution intravenous injection

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent

Epoetin alfa DRUG

solution for intravenous injection

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Male or female ≥18 years of age at the time of informed consent
• Receiving chronic, outpatient in-center hemodialysis three times a week for end-stage renal disease for at least 12 weeks prior to Screening
• Maintained on intravenous erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) therapy (mean dose of \<1.5 micrograms per kilogram per week for darbepoetin alfa, or mean dose of \<300 Units per kilogram per week for epoetin alfa) for 8 weeks prior to randomization
• Two hemoglobin values between 8.5 and 10.5 grams per deciliter, inclusive, measured at least 4 days apart within 28 days prior to randomization
• Investigator determines the participant is not likely to need rescue therapy (ESA administration or red blood cell transfusion) or require interruption or discontinuation of study drug within the next 30 days
• Serum ferritin ≥100 nanograms per milliliter and transferrin saturation ≥20% within the 28-day screening period prior to randomization
• Folate and vitamin B12 measurements ≥ lower limit of normal within the 28-day screening period prior to randomization
• Hemodialysis adequacy (Kt/Vurea) as indicated by single-pool Kt/Vurea ≥1.2 using the most recent historical measurement within 12 weeks prior to randomization
• Female participants of childbearing potential who are non-lactating, not pregnant as confirmed by a negative serum pregnancy test at Screening within 9 days prior to dosing on Day 1, and using, and agree to continue using, an acceptable method of contraception for at least 4 weeks prior to first dose of study drug until 30 days after the last dose of study drug. Acceptable contraceptive use is outlined in the protocol.
• Female participants of non-childbearing potential who are either surgically sterile (e.g., hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, bilateral oophorectomy) or post-menopausal (\>12 months of spontaneous and continuous amenorrhea in a female \>55 years old, or \>12 months of spontaneous and continuous amenorrhea with a follicle stimulating hormone \[FSH\] level \>40 International Units per Liter in a female \<55 years old)
• Female participants of childbearing potential who agree not to donate ova during the study and for at least 30 days after the last dose of study drug
• Male participants who have not had a vasectomy must agree to use an acceptable method of contraception from time of first dose of study drug until 30 days after the last dose of the study drug, and to not donate sperm during the study and for at least 30 days after the last dose of study drug. Acceptable contraceptive use is outlined in the protocol.
• Understands the procedures and requirements of the study and provides written informed consent and authorization for protected health information disclosure

You may not qualify if:

• Treated with any HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) other than atorvastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, or rosuvastatin within the 28-day screening period prior to randomization. Within the 28-day screening period prior to randomization, the maximum allowable dose of simvastatin is 20 milligrams (mg) daily, and the maximum allowable dose of rosuvastatin is 10 mg daily. These restrictions also apply to the dosing period.
• Treated with clinically relevant substrates of the breast cancer resistant protein (BCRP) transporter (e.g., sulfasalazine, methotrexate, mitoxantrone, imatinib, irinotecan, lapatinib, topotecan, tenofovir, glecaprevir, pibrentasir, or sofosbuvir) within 30 days prior to randomization
• Anemia with a cause other than chronic kidney disease (e.g., sickle cell disease, myelodysplastic syndromes, bone marrow fibrosis, hematologic malignancy, myeloma, hemolytic anemia, thalassemia, or pure red cell aplasia)
• Active bleeding or blood loss within 8 weeks prior to randomization
• Red blood cell transfusion within 8 weeks prior to randomization
• Anticipated to discontinue hemodialysis or change dialysis modality during the study
• History of chronic liver disease (e.g., chronic infectious hepatitis, chronic autoimmune liver disease, cirrhosis or fibrosis of the liver)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), or total bilirubin \>1.5× upper limit of normal (ULN) within the 28-day screening period prior to randomization. Participants with a history of Gilbert's syndrome may participate in the study if they are not jaundiced, have a total bilirubin \<3 × ULN and AST and ALT are not \>1.5× ULN.
• Current uncontrolled hypertension that would contraindicate the use of darbepoetin alfa or epoetin alfa as determined by the investigator
• Acute coronary syndrome (hospitalization for unstable angina or myocardial infarction), surgical or percutaneous intervention for coronary, cerebrovascular, or peripheral artery disease (aortic or lower extremity), surgical or percutaneous valvular replacement or repair, sustained ventricular tachycardia, hospitalization for heart failure (HF) or New York Heart Association Class IV HF, or stroke within 12 weeks prior to randomization
• History of new or recurrent malignancy within 2 years prior to Screening or currently receiving treatment or suppressive therapy for cancer. Participants with treated basal cell carcinoma of skin, curatively resected squamous cell carcinoma of skin, or cervical carcinoma in situ may participate on the study.
• History of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 12 weeks prior to randomization
• History of hemosiderosis or hemochromatosis
• History of bilateral native nephrectomy
• History of functioning organ transplantation other than corneal transplant

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Akebia Therapeutics: lead

Study Sites (10)

Research Site

Escondido, California, 92025, United States

Location

Research Site

Denver, Colorado, 80230, United States

Location

Research Site

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33308, United States

Location

Research Site

Miami, Florida, 33133, United States

Location

Research Site

Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, United States

Location

Research Site

Orlando, Florida, 32809, United States

Location

Research Site

Kansas City, Missouri, 64111, United States

Location

Research Site

Midwest City, Oklahoma, 73130, United States

Location

Research Site

Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States

Location

Research Site

Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37404, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Navarro-Gonzales P, Chavan A, Wang D, Burke SK, Dykstra K. A randomized trial to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of vadadustat in patients with anemia associated with chronic kidney disease receiving hemodialysis. BMC Nephrol. 2025 Aug 11;26(1):453. doi: 10.1186/s12882-025-04367-x.

  PMID: 40790188 DERIVED

• Natale P, Palmer SC, Jaure A, Hodson EM, Ruospo M, Cooper TE, Hahn D, Saglimbene VM, Craig JC, Strippoli GF. Hypoxia-inducible factor stabilisers for the anaemia of chronic kidney disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Aug 25;8(8):CD013751. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013751.pub2.

  PMID: 36005278 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anemia; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

Interventions

vadadustat; Darbepoetin alfa; Epoetin Alfa

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Hematologic Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Renal Insufficiency; Kidney Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Erythropoietin; Colony-Stimulating Factors; Glycoproteins; Glycoconjugates; Carbohydrates; Proteins; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Hematopoietic Cell Growth Factors; Cytokines; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; Peptides; Biological Factors

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: INDUSTRY
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 18, 2019
• First Posted: June 19, 2019
• Study Start: May 28, 2019
• Primary Completion: May 5, 2020
• Study Completion: July 15, 2020
• Last Updated: September 16, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (10)