Vifor's Ferinject reduces need for other anemia treatment

Vifor Pharma, a part of Switzerland-based Galenica Group (SIX: GALN) which develops pharmaceutical products for the treatment of iron deficiency, has published results of its FIND-CKD study demonstrating that compared to oral iron, Ferinject (intravenous ferric carboxymaltose) quickly maintains Hb levels and reduces the need for other anemia management.

The article, published in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (NDT), reports findings from the FIND-CKD study, the largest and longest, randomized study comparing iv and oral iron in patients with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) and non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (ND-CKD). It was conducted in 20 countries worldwide and 626 patients were randomized to treatment for one year.

Over 12 months, only one out of four patients receiving Ferinject targeting a ferritin of 400–600 mcg/L required other anemia treatment or reached a hemoglobin (Hb) trigger. Ferinject at an initial single dose of 1,000mg iron may simplify and help improve anemia management for the treating physicians and the patients with ND-CKD and ID.